The ex-husband of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner, The Vivienne (James Lee Williams), has declared his “heart is shattered” after their death at just 32 years old. The drag queen passed away suddenly in January 2025.

In an emotional tribute to the performer on Instagram, David Ludford wrote alongside a photo of their wedding day, “My heart literally sank when I got the call! My heart is shattered!”

Although he said he felt like a “tit” for being upset because the couple had been divorced for a year, he admitted, “We was [sic] together 6 years, and we loved each other so much, and you can’t take it away.” The couple announced their separation in April 2023 but The Vivienne had frequently spoken fondly about her former partner.

“I’m so happy to say I not only met you but we was together, we was husbands and you was the biggest part of my life for such a long time! 6 years is such a long time to spend 24/7 with you — will always always have a place in my heart [sic].”

Inside The Vivienne’s Romance To David Ludford

The Vivienne (James Lee Williams) and David Ludford met in Gran Canaria, Spain in 2017. In a January 2025 tribute to the performer, David revealed that he “clicked straight away” with The Vivienne and knew that they would “be together” for a long time.

David owns Drag Helmet, a brand that sells wigs for drag queens. The pair got engaged after dating for less than a year, with The Vivienne revealing on Instagram that they popped the question to David “550 feet above the Las Vegas strip!”

David and James married in December 2019 at the famous gay club, Heaven. They were the first couple to get married at the popular London venue. The pair settled down and bought a house together in 2023. After The Vivienne’s tragic passing, David posted videos of their wedding to his Instagram page.

The Vivienne’s Candid Confession About Addiction And How Their Husband ‘Saved’ Them

Over the years, The Vivienne has been candid about their struggle with drug addiction and their dark past. During their appearance on the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, they opened up about using drugs out of “boredom” and the habit caught on because they worked seven nights a week.

The Vivienne struggled with substance abuse for four years, which was only made worse by her life as a drag entertainer. “It was party, drugs, but I couldn’t leave the drugs at the party,” they explained on the BBC reality show, as reported by The Gay Times. “It was constant for me.”

Only when the queen hit “rock bottom” and was kicked out of their house did they realize they needed to turn their life around. “I was killing myself… and my family don’t even know. I was p****** my life up the wall, and I could’ve been dead now if I didn’t do anything about it.”

The winner continued, “You’ve got it deep inside. You can stop it. You can do it. Look at me now. I’m on Drag Race Season 1.”

In an interview with The Mirror, reported by The Express, The Vivienne added that when she was dependent on ketamine, it was their “breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

They added, “I could have three bags of it just putting my face on. I did it on and off for four years. I was getting evicted from apartments, I had no money. It was party drugs – but I couldn’t leave the drugs at the party. I’d been in hospital three times in a month, so I knew I needed help.”

• The Vivienne moved to Spain in 2017 to help kick her addiction, going “cold turkey” to kick the habit.
• While she did seek medical help, it was a Pride book in Gran Canaria that changed their life.
• “I did it, I was there for a week and I felt like myself, and I hadn’t touched anything for a week,” The Daily Record reports.
• In Gran Granaria, The Vivienne met David, who was then a waiter at a Las Palmas bar, and the pair fell in love.

According to The Mirror, the reality TV winner gave some powerful advice to those who are struggling with similar substance issues. “I don’t like to sugar-coat things: you’re probably going to have an absolute ball. But not everyone is blessed to be able to put it down at the end of the party and not touch it for two months and go, ‘Oh, do you know what, I’ll do a bit of that tonight’. Some people get fully addicted.”

The Breakdown Of The Vivienne’s Marriage To David Ludford

The Vivienne sadly announced their split from David Ludford in April 2023 after four years together. “As many have noticed, David and I have been apart recently. We have made the decision to part ways after an amazing 5 and a half years,” The Vivienne wrote in a joint Facebook statement, reported by The Daily Mail, with their husband.

“We are still very much friends but sometimes life gets in the way and people grow apart. We wish each other the absolute best and will always be part of each other’s lives.”

It was not known when the pair split up, but fans speculated the couple had called it quits when they hadn’t appeared on social media together in months.

The Vivienne did clarify to her followers that their split was not connected to her Dancing On Ice partner, Colin Grafton. The performer had been training for the ice skating reality show when she announced her split from David.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

Release Date

October 3, 2019

Writers

Christian Manley, Niki Xenophontos