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Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness says he's HIV positive | Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness says he's HIV positive |
(32 minutes later) | |
Queer Eye star, Jonathan Van Ness, has revealed he's living with HIV. | Queer Eye star, Jonathan Van Ness, has revealed he's living with HIV. |
The 32-year-old opens up about his condition for the first time in his new book, Over The Top, in the hope it'll break the stigma surrounding HIV. | The 32-year-old opens up about his condition for the first time in his new book, Over The Top, in the hope it'll break the stigma surrounding HIV. |
The hair stylist who shot to fame on the Netflix makeover show told the New York Times: "I've had nightmares every night for the past three months because I'm scared to be this vulnerable with people." | The hair stylist who shot to fame on the Netflix makeover show told the New York Times: "I've had nightmares every night for the past three months because I'm scared to be this vulnerable with people." |
He says he's been preparing himself mentally for much of the summer for the release of the memoir in which he also talks about being an addict and a survivor of sexual abuse. | He says he's been preparing himself mentally for much of the summer for the release of the memoir in which he also talks about being an addict and a survivor of sexual abuse. |
But he says they're issues that have to be heard. | But he says they're issues that have to be heard. |
"It's hard for me to be as open as I want to be when there are certain things I haven't shared publicly," he says. | "It's hard for me to be as open as I want to be when there are certain things I haven't shared publicly," he says. |
"These are issues that need to be talked about." | "These are issues that need to be talked about." |
And, he's been flooded with messages of support from fans and friends. | And, he's been flooded with messages of support from fans and friends. |
In the book, he talks about how he discovered his status. | In the book, he talks about how he discovered his status. |
Aged 25, he fainted while he was working as a hairdresser, so he visited non-profit organisation Planned Parenthood the next day and tested positive. | Aged 25, he fainted while he was working as a hairdresser, so he visited non-profit organisation Planned Parenthood the next day and tested positive. |
"That day was just as devastating as you would think it would be," he writes. | "That day was just as devastating as you would think it would be," he writes. |
But he says he is healthy and now describes himself as an out-and-proud "member of the beautiful HIV positive community." | But he says he is healthy and now describes himself as an out-and-proud "member of the beautiful HIV positive community." |
When Queer Eye was re-booted in 2018 with the Fab Five - as Jonathan and his four friends are known - he says he didn't know whether to come out with his status or not. | |
"It was really difficult because I was like, 'do I want to talk about my status?" | |
"And then I was like, 'the Trump administration has done everything they can do to have the stigmatisation of the LGBT community thrive around me.'" | |
The revelation comes less than a week after former Welsh rugby captain Gareth Thomas announced via Twitter that he is HIV positive. | The revelation comes less than a week after former Welsh rugby captain Gareth Thomas announced via Twitter that he is HIV positive. |
The 45-year-old former Welsh international rugby captain said keeping a secret had been the hardest part of the diagnosis - he too has received praise from all over the world for coming out to break down barriers surrounding the condition. | The 45-year-old former Welsh international rugby captain said keeping a secret had been the hardest part of the diagnosis - he too has received praise from all over the world for coming out to break down barriers surrounding the condition. |
Jonathan Van Ness also acknowledges that the stigma around HIV is still hard to overcome. | Jonathan Van Ness also acknowledges that the stigma around HIV is still hard to overcome. |
"These are all difficult subjects to talk about on a makeover show about hair and makeup," he explains. | "These are all difficult subjects to talk about on a makeover show about hair and makeup," he explains. |
"That doesn't mean Queer Eye is less valid, but I want people to realise you're never too broken to be fixed." | |
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. |
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |
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