‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Stars’ Health Scares and Tragedies
RuPaul’s Drag Race’s universe of vibrant and talented drag queens has endured numerous heartbreaking losses and health scares over the years.
When Drag Race loses one of its own — or if there’s a performer in crisis — the global community of queens has shown tremendous compassion in honoring their colleagues.
Queens can always count on encouragement and support from the franchise’s passionate fanbase in the hardest of times— most recently exemplified by the outpouring of love for Drag Race season 4 queen and Drag Race Philippines judge Jiggly Caliente when part of her right leg was surgically amputated due to a severe infection.
Keep scrolling for a look at how the Drag Race cast and fans came together when tragedy struck members of their community:
Jiggly Caliente
Caliente’s (real name: Bianca Castro) team shared the shocking news in April 2025 that she’d endured “the loss of most of her right leg” due to a “severe infection.”
Her representatives confirmed in a statement that Caliente would have to step back from her judging role on Drag Race Philippines and refrain from any “public engagements” during her “extensive” recovery.
Jewels Sparkles and Lexi Love Share ‘Drag Race’ Critiques They Still Use
“At this time, we kindly ask for privacy for Bianca and her family, as they navigate this difficult journey together,” the statement read. “While Jiggly concentrates on healing, we invite friends, fans and community to uplift her with messages of hope and love on her social media channels.”
The statement concluded, “Bianca’s family and drag house are deeply grateful for the continued outpouring of support, strength and prayers.”
The Vivienne
The Drag Race UK season 1 winner (real name: James Lee Williams) died at age 32 from cardiac arrest caused by use of the powerful anesthetic drug ketamine in January 2025.
The Vivienne spoke openly about her addiction struggles during her time on Drag Race UK and lent support to the Armistead Centre in Liverpool’s rehabilitation program during her lifetime.
Following her tragic death, The Vivienne’s family promised to work with substance abuse charity, Adferiad, on a campaign to encourage more open dialogue about addiction.
“Ketamine is an extremely dangerous drug that is becoming more and more prevalent in the U.K.,” the Williams family said. “If we can help raise awareness of the dangers of this drug and help people who may be dealing with ketamine addiction then something positive will come from this complete tragedy.”
Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Steve McMichael Dead at 67
RuPaul was among those to publicly memorialize The Vivienne, writing via Instagram, “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.”
Drag Race judge Michelle Visage referred to The Vivienne’s death as “heartbreaking” in her own statement.
“I don’t know how to say how I feel,” she wrote via Instagram. “My darling @thevivienne_ we go back to when I started coming over here to the UK. You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point. Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all. You were a beacon to so many.”
Drag Race production company World of Wonder will release a documentary about The Vivienne — titled Dear Viv — in 2025. The film features remembrances from The Vivienne’s closest collaborators as well as fans impacted by her legendary career.
Morphine Love Dion and Kaos
Drag Race season 16’s Dion (real name Michelle Orozco) and Canada’s Drag Race season 3 star Kaos (real name Jesilo Bernard) suffered injuries in a car crash that left one person dead in Los Angeles on the 10 freeway in July 2024.
Dion and Kaos were traveling in an Uber when their vehicle was involved in a multi-car pileup that sent six people to the hospital, in addition to the tragic loss of a passenger.
“Morphine was in a serious car accident while in an Uber,” Dion’s social media wrote via Instagram at the time. “She suffered multiple injuries but is grateful to be alive. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Some space and time is appreciated as she focuses on healing.”
Kaos also offered an update after the dangerous collision, writing via Instagram, “Just so everyone knows I am OK just been on bed rest.”
The queens were in Los Angeles to attend the annual DragCon fan event. Luckily, both have recovered from their injuries and are now performing again.
Chi Chi DeVayne
Season 8 and All Stars 3’s DeVayne (real name: Zavion Michael Davenport) was unquestionably one of the most beloved queens in Drag Race history. Known as the “Dancing Diva of Texas” by colleagues and fans alike, DeVayne consistently stunned viewers with her incredible choreography and acrobatic lip sync routines.
DeVayne shared in 2018 that she’d been diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Scleroderma, which can impact the ability of skin, muscles and blood vessels to function properly. The physical toll of DeVayne’s diagnosis meant that she gradually lost the ability to dance at the high standard she’d set for herself.
The Drag Race universe united to mourn DeVayne when she died at age 34 in 2020 after contracting pneumonia while she was being treated for kidney failure.
“I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of Chi Chi DeVayne,” RuPaul told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. “I am so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul. She will be dearly missed but never forgotten. May her generous and loving spirit shine down on us all. On behalf of VH1, World of Wonder and the cast and crew of RuPaul’s Drag Race, I extend my deepest sympathy — from our family to hers.”
Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time
Drag Race season 10 winner Aquaria praised DeVayne as “a symbol of kindness” while Trixie Mattel called her an “iconic queen literally everyone in our industry will always love.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race dedicated its season 13 finale to DeVayne in April 2021.
Bandit
The Drag Race Thailand contestant (real name: Bandit Janthawan) placed fifth in season two, but her legacy was extended when she designed some of host Pangina Heals’ costumes.
In addition to her time on reality TV, Bandit released a signature fashion capsule in 2011 and lectured on design at multiple universities.
Heals (real name: Pan Pan Narkprasert) confirmed to Entertainment Weekly in December 2023 that Bandit had died at age 38, though further details about her death were not made public.
“We’re all completely lost because Bandit has been a light.,” Heals said. “He has taught me. I would not be the same person I am today without Bandit teaching me about fashion.”
Heals went on, “He’s been such a visionary, such a giver. He’s always telling other people, ‘You can do this’ or, ‘Do that to be better,’ in terms of making sure other people have their fashion game on. He was such a funny person, such charisma, such magnetism, and without him, all of us don’t know what to do.”
Cynthia Lee Fontaine
One of Drag Race’s most inspiring stories was Fontaine’s (real name: Carlos Díaz Hernández) comeback in season 9 after being diagnosed with cancer.
Fontaine originally competed in Drag Race season 8, and was voted Miss Congeniality by her peers. She discovered she had stage 1 liver cancer two weeks after completing filming and underwent four rounds of chemotherapy before going into remission.
Drag Race invited Fontaine — nicknamed “Cucu” — back to compete in season 9, where she placed 10th. She told Hey Qween in 2017 that she relished the chance to share her cancer recovery with Drag Race viewers.
“How happy I am to be in recovery and healthier than ever,” she told host Jonny McGovern. “[I’m] still entertaining and sharing my ‘Cucu’ everywhere.”
Fontaine has another shot at glory in 2025 as part of the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Tournament of All Stars.
Sahara Davenport
Davenport (real name: Antoine Ashley) made an unforgettable impression in Drag Race season 2 with her elegance as well as her extensive classic dance training. She was a member of the famed Davenport drag house, with family members Kennedy Davenport and Honey Davenport following in her footsteps to compete on later seasons of Drag Race.
The musician and dancer tragically died at age 27 from congestive heart failure in October 2012, just two years after her season of Drag Race aired. Sahara was survived by partner and fellow Drag Race star Manila Luzon, who was quoted as saying at the time that she was “cherishing [Sahara’s] memories and carrying out his legacy.”
“I was lucky enough to have time with him,” Luzon (real name: Karl Philip Michael Westerberg) said in 2012.
“Shocked and heartbroken over @SaharaDavenport,” RuPaul tweeted at the time. “Never occurred to me that we’d ever lose one of our girls. I see them as immortal.”
Cherry Valentine
Valentine (real name: George Ward) finished in 12th place on Drag Race UK season 2, but her true legacy went beyond the competition. She made history as the first-ever queen of Romani heritage to appear on any Drag Race franchise.
She later hosted the 2022 BBC documentary Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud, where she explored her heritage as part of the English Traveller community. Away from the stage, Valentine was a trained mental health nurse and spoke publicly about the importance of self-care.
Her family made the sad announcement in September 2022 that Valentine had died at age 28. A coroner later determined she’d died by suicide, according to BBC News.
“It is with the most heart wrenching and deepest sadness to inform you that our George – Cherry Valentine – has tragically passed away,” Valentine’s family said in a statement. “This will come as a profound shock to most people [and] we understand there is no easy way for this to be announced.”
A statement from Drag Race UK read, “We are heartbroken that Cherry has passed away. She was a kind soul who brought joy and a distinctive laugh to everyone she met. She brought flair, verve and charm to #DragRaceUK, we will miss her so deeply.”
“At a loss for words. One of those souls so pure, so raw, so real,” Valentine’s season two costar Bimini wrote via X. “I’m incredibly lucky to have known George and witnessed their infectious spirit. Their patience and kindness was their superpower. They saw you for you and not many people have that empathetic trait. My heart.”
Tia Kofi, another Drag Race UK season 2 cast member, honored her friend by wearing an outfit inspired by Valentine’s original “Meet the Queens” promo look on RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World in 2024.
“I just thought it was really important that when I got the call to be here, I wanted to do something for [Cherry],” Kofi (real name: Lawrence John Bolton) explained in the Werk Room.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
