has ‘no words’ after a stranger who attacked them in an ‘appalling’ hate crime received a suspended jail term.
The former Drag Race UK star has responded to the news and is clearly disappointed by the sentencing after she was punched by unemployed scaffolder Alan Whitfield, 51, in what magistrates.
‘I have no words,’ the 31-year-old drag queen – whose real name is James Lee Williams – wrote on X.
The Vivienne, who won the first series of RuPaul’s and came third in last year’s , was targeted as she waited for food at McDonald’s in Liverpool on June 16 last year.
The star was subjected to a ‘barrage of abuse’ about her appearance from the defendant, who then hit her on the jaw with a ‘heavy blow’.
Her face was bruised and hurt for a week but the star said ‘luckily’ she is a 6ft ex-rugby player who can take a punch, Liverpool Magistrates’ Court was told.
Sentencing Whitfield on Friday, District Judge Paul Healey told him: ‘Your behaviour was really appalling.
‘The most serious aggravating feature of the offence is the fact that it was motivated by hostility to the victim because of their sexual orientation.’
The judge also noted the assault took place at about noon in an enclosed public area in the presence of children, who had to be moved out of harm’s way.
He said he stepped back from imposing immediate custody because of the defendant’s lack of recent and relevant convictions and the impact on his mother, who has severe health difficulties and relies on Whitfield as her primary carer.
‘Despite The Vivienne tweeting it was a 12 month suspended sentence, Whitfield has actually received a 12-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, and must abide by a two-year restraining order banning any contact the star.
He must complete 12 sessions of mental health treatment and 10 rehabilitation activity days with the Probation Service.
Whitfield, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to assault by beating, must also pay £300 compensation to his victim, along with £454 court costs.
In a victim personal statement read to the court on Wednesday, speaking as Williams, the star said: ‘As a proud gay man, I have never hidden who I am or edited myself. It shames me to say at the age of 31, I am for the first time in my life a lot more conscious that I could be attacked at any moment simply for living my authentic life.
‘This has caused me stress, anguish and ongoing trauma.’
Whitfield disputed the assault was motivated by the star’s sexuality and claimed he reacted in anger to a comment made about his skin.
