“The timing was almost spooky”: Man shares bittersweet Cameo he just received from The Vivienne
A man has gone viral on X after sharing a Cameo video made by The Vivienne for his 40th birthday last weekend.
Cameo is a video-sharing website where fans can ask celebrities for short, personalized video messages.
British performer James Lee Williams, aka The Vivienne, passed away earlier this month at age 32.
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The Vivienne shot to fame as the winner of the first season of Drag Race UK in 2019. They also appeared on All-Stars season 7.
On Sunday, an Australian man named Danny Wilson shared the Cameo video his husband commissioned from The Vivienne late last year.
In it, The Vivienne wishes Danny a happy birthday and sings the praises of Australian men. They also, heartbreakingly, comment on how they’re loving being in their 30s and are only eight years away from 40 themselves.
Watch below.
It was my birthday on the weekend and this is the cameo my husband got me from @THEVIVIENNEUK.
What timing for this cameo to arrive.
It feels only right to share this message and to remember how full of joy and love she was and how she showed so much care for her fans. pic.twitter.com/eLH1hjWNtM
— Dan (@deputydman) January 12, 2025
“When he sat me down he brought me tissues”
Queerty reached out to Danny, who’s based in Melbourne, to ask him for more information about the video.
He said his husband, Michael, ordered the video back on November 28. It arrived later that same day.
“He organized the Cameo along with two others for my 40th birthday. He chose my three favorite RuPaul queens: The Vivienne, Jujubee and Kween Kong.”
Michael also asked friends from around the world to film video messages.
“He then edited them all together to present me with a 30-minute video montage.
“When he sat me down he brought me tissues and said ‘You’ll need these, never in 100 years are you going to be prepared for what’s coming’. And he was right.
“About halfway through was the first part of the Queens’ messages. Kween Kong was first (as she’s from my hometown), then Jujubee. At this stage, I was laughing. And then The Vivienne appeared.
“Tears instantly came to my eyes and I could not believe she was there on my screen after her tragic passing earlier in the week. It felt surreal to see her, speaking to me and singing Happy Birthday — the timing was almost spooky.
“When I rewatched the video the next morning, I knew I had to share it. Hearing her say how she was ‘8 years from 40’, and ‘loving her 30s’ felt like it should be how we should remember her. Her cheeky wit, her joy in the way she spoke and gave me my message, including signing off with ‘think of me’, I just knew I had to share it, keeping a message like that to myself when so many wanted a chance to say goodbye didn’t feel right.”
“She instantly became a favorite of mine”
Danny says he’s been a huge fan of The Vivienne since the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
“Her run was legendary and she instantly became a favorite of mine,” he says. “This was then cemented by her run on RuPaul’s Drag Race Allstars Season 7 All Winners, where her talent, wit and passion shone through. I was then lucky enough to see her at the Snatch Game Live tour in Australia last year.
“I knew the video would strike a chord with some people, but the reaction has been crazy. The messages from people saying how much they appreciate being able to hear from The Vivienne one more time, people commenting that this almost serves as a goodbye message, and people commenting how full of joy she is in the video have really warmed and broken my heart in equal measure.”
Liverpool vigil
Friends and fans commemorated The Vivienne at a vigil held Sunday evening in Liverpool, England.
Hundreds gathered on the steps of St George’s Hall, which was lit in green for the occasion. The attendees also released green balloons and sang along to a rendition of “Over The Rainbow.” The Vivienne recently played The Wicked Witch in a touring production of The Wizard Of Oz.
The Vivienne’s family issued a statement that was read at the event.
“As a family we are completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for James, The Vivienne,” they said.
“From an early age it was evident he was destined for the stage… he was determined to pave his own way in this world.
“The road was not easy but the dream never, ever changed and James would always tell us that they would make it happen and they did.”
The family said they were “so unbelievably proud of everything they achieved”.
“We will miss you for an eternity and for an eternity we will all love you.”
Yesterday, Trinity The Tuck joined the many Drag Race-associated queens to pay their own tribute.
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