Celebrities living with HIV (and the ones we’ve lost)

Billy Porter, one of the stars of the FX series 'Pose,' and particularly known for his stunning outfits on the red carpet in recent years, is a more recent celebrity to share his HIV-positive status. He revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he's been living with HIV for the past 14 years. As his professional success reached new heights with his casting in 2021's 'Cinderella,' he decided to shed the shame and use his platform to show the world what HIV-positive really looks like.

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Jonathan Van Ness - The 'Queer Eye' star was diagnosed as HIV positive at 25 years old, after he fainted while working in a hair salon.

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Jonathan Van Ness - He revealed the diagnosis while promoting his memoir, 'Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love,' in September 2019.

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Thomas Neuwirth - Austrian singer Thomas Neuwirth, who is better known by the stage name Conchita Wurst, revealed he was HIV-positive in 2018.

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Thomas Neuwirth - He said that he had been threatened by an ex-boyfriend and that he would rather make the information public than have his private life exposed by third parties.

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Eazy-E -

Hip-hop legend Eric Wright AKA Eazy-E, found out he was HIV positive in 1995.

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Eazy-E -

Soon after being diagnosed with the virus, Eazy-E decided to make it public as a way to raise awareness among young fans, said the Daily News. He died one month after his diagnosis.

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Charlie Sheen - The Golden Globe-winner and former star of the hit show 'Two and a Half Men' found out he was HIV positive back in 2011.

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Charlie Sheen - In 2015, Sheen publicly revealed that he was HIV positive during an interview for NBC's 'Today' show. The news spread like wildfire across mainstream media platforms.

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Dack Rambo - Anyone who watched the show 'Dallas' certainly remembers Dack Rambo playing Jack Ewing. The actor found out he was HIV positive in 1991.

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Dack Rambo - The following year, the actor had an interview with People magazine, in which he talked about his optimism and how he didn't consider the disease to be a death sentence. Rambo unfortunately passed away in 1994.

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Holly Johnson - The former 'Frankie Goes to Hollywood' singer was diagnosed in 1991, he told The Guardian.

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Holly Johnson - During the interview, Johnson revealed how he deals with the disease in a productive way, not drinking or smoking, and doing everything he can to stay healthy.

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Magic Johnson - Former basketball player Magic Johnson revealed that he was HIV positive in 1991. History has recalled the precise moment it happened.

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Magic Johnson - Medical advancements allowed him to stay in good shape for so many years, ABC revealed.

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Jerry Herman - The American composer, known for his work on Broadway, was born in 1931 and found out he was HIV positive in 1984.

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Jerry Herman - In an interview in 1995 with The Washington Post, Herman confessed that he felt scared after he received the diagnosis. Herman passed away on December 26, 2019.

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Andy Bell - Bell is known for being one of the lead singers of British duo Erasure. He found out he was living with the HIV virus in the late '90s.

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Andy Bell - In 2014, the musician had an interview with The Guardian, where he talked about his treatment routine and how he felt stronger these days.

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Greg Louganis - Everyone knows that winning an Olympic gold medal is not easy. For the former American diver, the challenge was just beginning, as he had another battle to fight: this time against HIV.

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Greg Louganis - In 1996, he released a biography where he revealed that he was a carrier of the virus. He then became an AIDS activist, according to the Daily News.

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No prejudice -

We can only hope that these stars' stories will contribute to the end of prejudice against HIV positive people. Prevention is the best medicine!

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Rock Hudson - The '50s and '60s Hollywood heartthrob discovered he was HIV positive in 1985.

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Rock Hudson - That same year, he made his condition public, being the first major star to reveal he carried the virus, as the Daily News reports. He passed away on October 2, 1985.

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Danny Pintauro - The actor, known for his role in the show 'Who's The Boss?,' was diagnosed with HIV in 2003, The Washington Post revealed.

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Danny Pintauro - The news became public during an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2015.

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Michael Jeter - Known for his performances in movies such as 'The Green Mile' and 'Jurassic Park III,' the actor discovered that he was HIV positive in 1996.

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Michael Jeter - The following year, Jeter not only made his condition public, but shared his experience of living with HIV, the Daily News reported. The actor died in 2003, at the age of 50.

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Freddie Mercury - For this reason, Freddie Mercury publicly revealed that he was ill with the virus shortly before he died in 1991, according to the Daily Mail.

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Billy Porter -

Getty Images

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Jonathan Van Ness - The 'Queer Eye' star was diagnosed as HIV positive at 25 years old, after he fainted while working in a hair salon.

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Jonathan Van Ness - He revealed the diagnosis while promoting his memoir, 'Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love,' in September 2019.

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Thomas Neuwirth - Austrian singer Thomas Neuwirth, who is better known by the stage name Conchita Wurst, revealed he was HIV-positive in 2018.

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Thomas Neuwirth - He said that he had been threatened by an ex-boyfriend and that he would rather make the information public than have his private life exposed by third parties.

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Eazy-E -

Hip-hop legend Eric Wright AKA Eazy-E, found out he was HIV positive in 1995.

Getty Images

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Eazy-E -

Soon after being diagnosed with the virus, Eazy-E decided to make it public as a way to raise awareness among young fans, said the Daily News. He died one month after his diagnosis.

Getty Images

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Charlie Sheen - The Golden Globe-winner and former star of the hit show 'Two and a Half Men' found out he was HIV positive back in 2011.

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Charlie Sheen - In 2015, Sheen publicly revealed that he was HIV positive during an interview for NBC's 'Today' show. The news spread like wildfire across mainstream media platforms.

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Dack Rambo - Anyone who watched the show 'Dallas' certainly remembers Dack Rambo playing Jack Ewing. The actor found out he was HIV positive in 1991.

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Holly Johnson - The former 'Frankie Goes to Hollywood' singer was diagnosed in 1991, he told The Guardian.

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Holly Johnson - During the interview, Johnson revealed how he deals with the disease in a productive way, not drinking or smoking, and doing everything he can to stay healthy.

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Magic Johnson - Former basketball player Magic Johnson revealed that he was HIV positive in 1991. History has recalled the precise moment it happened.

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Magic Johnson - Medical advancements allowed him to stay in good shape for so many years, ABC revealed.

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Jerry Herman - The American composer, known for his work on Broadway, was born in 1931 and found out he was HIV positive in 1984.

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Jerry Herman - In an interview in 1995 with The Washington Post, Herman confessed that he felt scared after he received the diagnosis. Herman passed away on December 26, 2019.

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Andy Bell - Bell is known for being one of the lead singers of British duo Erasure. He found out he was living with the HIV virus in the late '90s.

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Andy Bell - In 2014, the musician had an interview with The Guardian, where he talked about his treatment routine and how he felt stronger these days.

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Greg Louganis - In 1996, he released a biography where he revealed that he was a carrier of the virus. He then became an AIDS activist, according to the Daily News.

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No prejudice -

We can only hope that these stars' stories will contribute to the end of prejudice against HIV positive people. Prevention is the best medicine!

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Celebrities living with HIV (and the ones we’ve lost)

Many stars are opening up to destigmatize the once-fatal diagnosis

31/10/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Health

Some celebrities prefer to keep their private lives as secretive as possible, while others have no problem sharing it with the public. When stars do share their stories about being HIV positive, however, they're bravely bearing a weighty series of issues, including the prejudice against people carrying the virus, and they're also giving people with HIV a bigger platform.

Click through to find out which celebrities have publicly announced that they are HIV positive.