RuPaul’s Drag Race star Cherry Valentine took own life after ‘struggling’ with fame, inquest told

A star of RuPaul's Drag Race took their own life after "struggling" to cope with fame, an inquest heard on Thursday (February 9).

George Ward - who performed as drag queen Cherry Valentine - was found hanged in his London flat by his lifelong friend and flatmate last September, the hearing was told.

The “extravagant” 28-year-old, who was also a qualified mental health nurse, appeared on the second season of the cult BBC Three show RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

North London Coroner's Court heard how Mr Ward had been "struggling with their rise to fame" since appearing on the show.

A ‘mask’

A friend said Ward's extravagance may have been a “mask” he was hiding behind, and that he had previously “battled” with depression.

The inquest heard Mr Ward - who used he/they pronouns when not in drag and was genderfluid - had been "disowned" by his family at 18 after coming out as gay.

However, the inquest was told he had recently "rekindled" his relationship with his family, who came from an English Traveller community in Darlington, County Durham.

The drag scene

He had been introduced to the drag scene in Manchester whilst studying mental health nursing at the University of Cumbria.

Ward later moved to London with a female friend from home, and was announced as a contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race UK in December 2020 - starring under their alter-ego and drag name, Cherry Valentine.

When filming for the show was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, he went back to the NHS to assist in vaccination efforts.

Before his death

In a post mortem report surrounding the circumstances of Mr Ward's death, his friend, Kate - who he shared a flat with in Hornsey, north London - said she had noticed changes in their sleeping pattern in the weeks leading up to their death.

The report stated: "[Kate] stated that he seemed normal [in the weeks leading up to his death], but recently noticed that he had been sleeping late and getting up late...

"The subject was a successful drag queen, and [his friend] believes he had been struggling with his rise to fame after being on RuPaul's Drag Race.

"[Their friend] also said [Ward]'s ex-partner had recently got engaged.

"[The friends] would regularly chat about their struggles, but [his friend] believed that Ward's extravagant behaviour was a mask.

"[Ward] previously suffered from depression... this is something he has battled with."

September 2022

On September 18, 2022, Ward took his own life when his flatmate was out at a concert.

She returned home that evening to see a clothes rack blocking the door to his room, and a note saying: “Kate, please read this and do not go in.”

The friend forced the door ajar and noticed a rope hanging down, but was unable to fully open the door to reach her friend.

She phoned emergency services, who were unable to resuscitate him.

Three A4 pages of suicide notes were found in Mr Ward's box room; one addressed to his friend, Kate, and two others adressed to his family and other unspecified people.

Verdict

Recording a verdict of suicide, assistant coroner Dr Peter Straker paid tribute to Mr Ward, by amending his occupation to read “drag queen”.

Dr Straker said: "I will return the verdict that George Ward killed himself.

"[He] died as a result of asphyxiation, caused by hanging.

"Under occupation... I'm going to edit this. I am going to put, 'drag queen' under occupation. It was previously left blank.

"[Ward's family] have my greatest sympathy at this time, and I am very sad that it is someone so young who dies in this way."

Family tribute

In a tribute to their son following the news of their death, Mr Ward's family said in a statement: "As his family, we are still processing his death and our lives will never be the same.

"We understand how much he is loved and how many lives he has inspired and touched.

"We love you Georgie.”

During his career, Mr Ward also appeared in a music video for British artist Charlie XCX's 2021 single Good Ones.

He was also the star of his own BBC Documentary, Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud, in 2022, in which he returned to the Traveller community.

Mental health help

• Samaritans. To talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email [email protected] or visit some branches in person.
• SANEline. If you’re experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm –10.30pm every day).
• National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK. Offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652 (6pm–3.30am every day).