Ex-Husband of "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" Winner The Vivienne Says His 'Heart is Shattered' After Their Death at 32
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01/06/2025 02:26 PM
"My heart literally sank when I got the call!!" he wrote in a touching Instagram post
David paul Ludford/Instagram
David Paul Ludford and The VivienneThe Vivienne's ex-husband David Paul Ludford is reflecting on their time together following the news of their sudden death.
On Monday, Jan. 6, Luford shared a touching tribute to the late RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner, born James Lee Williams, who recently died at the age of 32.
"My heart literally sank when I got the call!! 🪽💔😔My heart is shattered!!! 😭," he captioned an Instagram post. "Never in a million years did I think I'd ever be writing anything like this about @thevivienne_."
David paul Ludford/Instagram
David Paul Ludford and The VivienneLuford continued to write that Williams "changed my life" when they first met in August 2017 on the island of Gran Canaria in Spain. He wrote that they "clicked straight away" and he instantly knew they were going to be in each other's lives for a long time.
"We literally went through and did so much together it was like a whirlwind and I wouldn't have changed the time we spent together for anything in the world" Luford continued.
He added that while they have been divorced for over a year, it doesn't take away from their six years together.
"Going to miss you more than people will ever know," Luford concluded. "Sleep tight angel."
The carousel began with pictures from their wedding night, followed by a few candid snaps.
Lia Toby/Getty
The Vivienne attends the "Wicked: Part One" European Premiere at The Royal Festival Hall on Nov. 18, 2024 in LondonLuford shared a second post with more photos and the caption, "My heart is literally shattered, I feel so out of place I feel lost, I feel numb 💔😭😔🪽. Fly high angel and keep shining 🕊️."
The two tied the knot in 2019, with Williams sharing a series of posts from the special day on Instagram that December.
"Thank you so much @john_whaite for going above and beyond our expectations with this stunning creation," Williams captioned a post that included a photo of their five-tiered wedding cake. "So happy you were able to come and enjoy the day too! #weddingcake."
Another post was a video of their first dance – set to "Always Remember Us This Way" by Lady Gaga.
The pair announced their split in April 2023, writing on Facebook in a joint post: "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."
"We are still very much friends but sometimes life gets in the way and people grow apart," they continued. "We wish each other the absolute best and will always be part of each other's lives."
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Williams' death was announced via X on Jan. 5 by their rep Simon Jones on Jan. 5. A cause of death was not provided.
"It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams - The Vivienne, has passed this weekend," Jones' statement read.
"James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person. Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career," Jones continued. "We will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James' family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve."
