Content warning: This story includes topics that could make some readers uncomfortable.
Drag Race UK star The Vivienne has opened up about how her life has changed since experiencing a homophobic attack at McDonald’s.
In June, the All Stars 7 talent revealed on Twitter that a stranger physically assaulted her.
“Just been attacked in McDonald’s, Police on way. Homophobia alive and well folks,” she wrote. “First time I’ve never retaliated in a fight because I’m not gonna punch somebody in front of kids and women. #pieceofshit.”
A few hours after the attack, The Vivienne returned to social media to reveal that police captured the homophobic assailant.
“Huge thank you to the fantastic staff at @McDonaldsUK Edge Lane who acted fast and removed the idiot from the premises and did everything in their power to make sure I was ok and waited for police with me,” she wrote.
“He’s been arrested and in custody. Result, it’s so important that as a community, we report and take action on hate crimes. Otherwise it continues to happen. Time to set an example!”
While the unidentified individual was apprehended, the attack has left a lasting mark on the beloved performer.
During her recent appearance on ITV’s This Morning, The Vivienne opened up about the unprovoked assault and how it affected her well-being.
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“It was in broad daylight. I wasn’t in drag. I was getting a burger, and what happened, happened, but the police were fantastic, and it did kind of shake me up a little bit,” she explained.
“Because I’ve always been from a young age so confident and didn’t care what anyone thought. But then I found myself, even after the attack, I was like, ‘Oh, it’s fine, I’ve dealt with this for years,’ but then going on a train and hiding around a corner–– it did shake me up a bit.”
After host Josie Gibson expressed her surprise over The Vivienne hiding on the train, the talented drag performer gave further insight into the heartbreaking moment.
“We all think, ‘Oh, we’re strong, and we can get through it,’ but then a week later, I was getting the train up to London, and a big group of lads who had been out [showed up] and I found myself for the first time in my life, ever, I hid around the corner and waited for the train,” she said.
“And it was in that moment I thought, ‘Wow, that has really affected me.'”
Towards the end of her interview, The Vivienne admitted to Josie and her co-host Craig Doyle that she was glad that the attack happened to her instead of a younger queer individual.
“You know, we’re fine, and we get through it, but I’m kind of glad it happened to me, who is able to deal with it than, say, a 15 or 16-year-old gay youth who’s come to terms with themselves it would have really affected them for life,” she said.
Check out The Vivienne’s full interview below.
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