Julian Assange wants a temporary release from incarceration to attend the funeral of Dame Vivienne Westwood (Picture: Getty Images Europe)
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is going to ask for permission to leave prison to attend the funeral of his friend Dame Vivienne Westwood, according to the Australian’s wife.
Dame Vivienne, known as the Godmother of Punk, died aged 81 on Thursday surrounded by her family in south London.
Following her death, Mr Assange is now searching for a way to say goodbye despite being behind bars in London’s Belmarsh prison as he fights extradition to the US.
His wife Stella Assange told Australia’s Nine Media of the funeral: ‘Julian’s going to put in a request to be able to attend.’
Mr Assange and Dame Vivienne had been friends for more than a decade, with the designer a vocal supporter throughout his time in the Ecuadorian embassy and prison.
She even dressed as a canary and suspended herself inside a giant birdcage outside The Old Bailey in July 2020 to protest his potential extradition.
Dame Vivienne protested for Assange at the Old Bailey in 2020 against his US extradition (Picture: Mike Marsland)
Dame Vivienne later joined protesters holding a picnic in honour of Assange’s 50th birthday at Parliament Square in 2021 (Picture: Ki Price/Getty Images)
The designer’s death prompted the Wikileaks founder to issue his first quote since being imprisoned in 2019.
In a comment released by Mrs Assange, he said: ‘Vivienne was a Dame and a pillar of the anti-establishment. Bold, creative, thoughtful and a good friend. The best of Britain. She will be missed terribly by me and many others.’
Mrs Assange wore a dress designed by Dame Vivienne and her husband Andreas Kronthaler when she married the 51-year-old at the prison in a small ceremony in March.
Mrs Assange said following the death: ‘Vivienne was a rebel at heart. Julian and I loved her company. Her gift to us took our wedding to the next level so there was a lot of attention and she just had this incredible talent for visuals and for messaging.’
Assange was friends with Dame Vivienne for more than a decade (Picture: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
She added: ‘Our wonderful friend Vivienne Westwood has left us. A fierce campaigner and a true altruist, she fought to #FreeAssange and for humanity’s future. Vivienne, you remain an inspiration. Your greatness will live on.’
Tributes also came from Sir Paul McCartney and his fashion designer daughter Stella, both also environmental and animal rights activists.
Former Beatle Sir Paul wrote: ‘Goodbye Vivienne Westwood. A ballsy lady who rocked the fashion world and stood defiantly for what was right. Love Paul.’
Naomi Campbell was among the many stars of the fashion world paying tribute to the punk icon (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Others, including Victoria Beckham and Boy George paid tribute to the ‘undisputed queen of British fashion, with I’m A Celebrity star Boy George writing: ‘‘R.I.P to the great and inspiring Vivienne Westwood who lead us through punk and beyond.’
In another touching tribute, supermodel Naomi Campbell hailed Dame Vivienne as a ‘force of nature’, adding that she must now ‘rest on the throne you so greatly deserve, queen.’
Dame Vivienne, who was born in Cheshire in 1941, is largely accepted as being responsible for bringing punk and new wave fashion into the mainstream with her eccentric creations.
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Her designs were regularly worn by high-profile individuals including Dita Von Teese, who wore a purple Westwood wedding gown to marry Marilyn Manson, and Princess Eugenie, who wore three Westwood designs for various elements of the wedding of the then Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Details of her funeral are not yet known.
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MORE : Was Dame Vivienne Westwood married and did she have any children?
Julian Assange wants a temporary release from incarceration to attend the funeral of Dame Vivienne Westwood (Picture: Getty Images Europe)
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is going to ask for permission to leave prison to attend the funeral of his friend Dame Vivienne Westwood, according to the Australian’s wife.
Dame Vivienne, known as the Godmother of Punk, died aged 81 on Thursday surrounded by her family in south London.
Following her death, Mr Assange is now searching for a way to say goodbye despite being behind bars in London’s Belmarsh prison as he fights extradition to the US.
His wife Stella Assange told Australia’s Nine Media of the funeral: ‘Julian’s going to put in a request to be able to attend.’
Mr Assange and Dame Vivienne had been friends for more than a decade, with the designer a vocal supporter throughout his time in the Ecuadorian embassy and prison.
She even dressed as a canary and suspended herself inside a giant birdcage outside The Old Bailey in July 2020 to protest his potential extradition.
Dame Vivienne protested for Assange at the Old Bailey in 2020 against his US extradition (Picture: Mike Marsland)
Dame Vivienne later joined protesters holding a picnic in honour of Assange’s 50th birthday at Parliament Square in 2021 (Picture: Ki Price/Getty Images)
The designer’s death prompted the Wikileaks founder to issue his first quote since being imprisoned in 2019.
In a comment released by Mrs Assange, he said: ‘Vivienne was a Dame and a pillar of the anti-establishment. Bold, creative, thoughtful and a good friend. The best of Britain. She will be missed terribly by me and many others.’
Mrs Assange wore a dress designed by Dame Vivienne and her husband Andreas Kronthaler when she married the 51-year-old at the prison in a small ceremony in March.
Mrs Assange said following the death: ‘Vivienne was a rebel at heart. Julian and I loved her company. Her gift to us took our wedding to the next level so there was a lot of attention and she just had this incredible talent for visuals and for messaging.’
Assange was friends with Dame Vivienne for more than a decade (Picture: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
She added: ‘Our wonderful friend Vivienne Westwood has left us. A fierce campaigner and a true altruist, she fought to #FreeAssange and for humanity’s future. Vivienne, you remain an inspiration. Your greatness will live on.’
Tributes also came from Sir Paul McCartney and his fashion designer daughter Stella, both also environmental and animal rights activists.
Former Beatle Sir Paul wrote: ‘Goodbye Vivienne Westwood. A ballsy lady who rocked the fashion world and stood defiantly for what was right. Love Paul.’
Naomi Campbell was among the many stars of the fashion world paying tribute to the punk icon (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Others, including Victoria Beckham and Boy George paid tribute to the ‘undisputed queen of British fashion, with I’m A Celebrity star Boy George writing: ‘‘R.I.P to the great and inspiring Vivienne Westwood who lead us through punk and beyond.’
In another touching tribute, supermodel Naomi Campbell hailed Dame Vivienne as a ‘force of nature’, adding that she must now ‘rest on the throne you so greatly deserve, queen.’
Dame Vivienne, who was born in Cheshire in 1941, is largely accepted as being responsible for bringing punk and new wave fashion into the mainstream with her eccentric creations.
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Her designs were regularly worn by high-profile individuals including Dita Von Teese, who wore a purple Westwood wedding gown to marry Marilyn Manson, and Princess Eugenie, who wore three Westwood designs for various elements of the wedding of the then Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Details of her funeral are not yet known.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Was Dame Vivienne Westwood married and did she have any children?
MORE : Fearne Cotton recalls Dame Vivienne Westwood wearing ‘huge penis brooch’ when they met as she shares incredible painting after fashion designer’s death
