Drag queen Cherry Valentine, who appeared on the second sequence of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, has died on the age of 28.
The performer, who was born George Ward, died on Sunday, an announcement from their household introduced, as tributes from followers and fellow stars of the present flooded social media.
‘It's with essentially the most heart-wrenching and deepest disappointment to tell you that our George – Cherry Valentine – has tragically handed away,’ the assertion learn.
‘This can come as a profound shock to most individuals and we perceive there isn't any simple manner for this to be introduced.
‘As his household, we're nonetheless processing his loss of life and our lives won't ever be the identical.’
They continued: ‘We perceive how a lot he's cherished and what number of lives he has impressed and touched. All we ask is on your endurance and your prayers on this time. We love you Georgie.’
In a tribute, Drag Race UK stated they're ‘heartbroken that Cherry has handed away’.
‘She was a form soul who introduced pleasure and a particular snicker to everybody she met. She introduced aptitude, verve and allure to #DragRaceUK, we'll miss her so deeply,’ the assertion learn.
BBC Three additionally stated: ‘We're devastated on the passing of George, who we knew as Cherry Valentine.’
Drag Race host RuPaul paid tribute in an emotional message on Twitter, writing: ‘So unhappy to listen to. A vibrant star and a beautiful individual. @TheCValentine At all times in our hearts.’
Fiona Campbell, BBC Three Controller, added: ‘We're all shocked and heartbroken to listen to the information of the passing of George, identified to many as Cherry Valentine.’
Ward, who was raised in Darlington, County Durham as a part of the Traveller neighborhood, certified as a psychological well being nurse in 2015.
When the manufacturing for Drag Race UK sequence two was placed on maintain from March 2020 up till November that yr due the coronavirus pandemic, Ward felt decided to renew nursing.
In January 2021 earlier than the launch of the season, Ward spoke to Metro.co.uk, explaining that throughout the hiatus, they thought: ‘I can’t simply sit at residence, I must be doing one thing.’
‘I ended up going again into [nursing], working in neuro for a bit for a few months. It was excessive depth neuro for adults, so it was [treating patients with] mind injury and mind accidents,’ they stated on the time.
‘It was a bizarre crossover as a result of I’m clearly psychological health-trained. In the course of the pandemic, it was very bodily health-focused, so it was coping with Covid, which was a little bit of a shock. I did that till we went again filming once more.’
Ward was the second competitor to be eradicated from Drag Race UK sequence two, after performing within the Rusical and delivering a runway look in entrance of visitor decide Sheridan Smith.
After showing on Drag Race UK, Ward continued pursuing his TV profession, fronting a BBC documentary titled Gypsy Queen And Proud, which noticed them revisit the neighborhood they left after they have been 18 years previous.
The late performer additionally appeared in music movies by artists similar to Charli XCX.
Of their introductory video for Drag Race UK sequence two, they described their Cherry Valentine alter-ego as ‘glamour’, ‘darkish’ and ‘gothic’, saying that working as a nurse had ‘put me in that proper place to have the ability to perceive individuals a bit extra’.
‘If you're a drag queen you're working with individuals. And to know individuals I feel you go the additional mile,’ they stated within the clip.
Cherry left Drag Race UK visitor decide Smith in tears throughout an emotional lip sync with fellow competitor Tayce earlier than Ward was eradicated from the competitors in January 2021.
The pair had delivered a lip sync to Elaine Paige’s model of Reminiscence, performing in entrance of judges RuPaul, Alan Carr and Michelle Visage.
A fundraising web page has been arrange on GoFundMe to boost cash for a vigil in Ward’s hour, with a set goal of £10,000.
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