RuPaul is seemingly weighing in on Tyra Sanchez joking about The Vivienne’s unexpected death.
RuPaul, 64, shared a throwback video from the season 2 finale of The RuPaul Drag Race via his Instagram on Wednesday, January 8. In the clip, the Emmy winning host was participating in the acting challenge alongside Tyra, who was formerly known as King Tyra. (Tyra’s birth name is James Ross). In the scene, RuPaul dramatically slaps Tyra, 36, across the face.
RuPaul did not caption the video or provide any additional context surrounding the post, but many fans — and Drag Race alums — flocked to the comments section to applaud him for the not-so-subtle diss toward Tyra.
“Gag it actually,” season 16 alum Amanda Tori Meating replied, while Kandy Muse responded, “MOTHER.”
Earlier this week, Tyra received backlash after responding to a 2020 tweet from The Vivienne that discussed Tyra. The joke was posted the same day that news broke of The Vivienne’s death.
“Bet Tyra was fuming when she Realised Netflix Spoiled the win Too. Sorry gal. You Tried though,” The Vivienne wrote via X at the time, to which Tyra replied on Sunday, January 5, “Yet it doesn’t compare to the fumes of the crematorium.”
Many fans and fellow drag queens took to social media to condemn Tyra’s remarks. Kandy (real name Kevin Gabriel Candelario) publicly slammed Tyra.
“I’ve defended you for years but now you can absolutely go f— yourself and if our path were to ever cross it’s absolutely on sight bitch,” Kandy replied via X on Sunday. “It’s not a threat it’s a promise. you disgusting person.”
Despite receiving backlash, Tyra continued to stand by the original post.
“She’s dead. Rotting. Sending me all the hate in the world won’t bring her back,” Tyra posted later on Sunday. “But you do as you must. Because of you the tweet has reached over 25k individuals. Thanks for the much needed attention that I oh so desperately needed.”
News broke on Sunday that The Vivienne (real name James Lee Williams) died at age 32.
“It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams — The Vivienne, has passed this weekend,” the performer’s manager, Simon Jones, wrote in a statement shared via Instagram on Sunday.
No additional details have been released about The Vivienne’s death. However, authorities told Hello! that there were “no suspicious circumstances” surrounding the drag queen’s passing.
The Drag Race community mourned The Vivienne in the wake of their passing, posting countless tributes in their honor.
“With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne—an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being,” RuPaul wrote via Instagram alongside a photo of the pair together.
