Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness reveals he’s HIV positive in new memoir
QUEER Eye star Jonathan Van Ness has revealed he’s living with HIV in his new memoir. The grooming expert, 32, called the day he was diagnosed “devastating” but now views himself as a “member of the beautiful HIV-positive community.” Speaking to The New York Times ahead of the book’s release, he said: “I’ve had nightmares […]
QUEER Eye star Jonathan Van Ness has revealed he’s living with HIV in his new memoir.
The grooming expert, 32, called the day he was diagnosed “devastating” but now views himself as a “member of the beautiful HIV-positive community.”
Speaking to The New York Times ahead of the book’s release, he said: “I’ve had nightmares every night for the past three months because I’m scared to be this vulnerable with people. There are issues that need to be talked about.”
In the book, Jonathan tells how at 25 he collapsed while cutting a client’s hair and was subsequently tested for the virus.
He wrote: “That day was just as devastating as you would think it would be.”
Discussing his reason for revealing his status, he said: “When Queer Eye came out, 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 stigmatization of the LGBT community thrive around me.’ ”
Jonathan also goes into detail about being sexually abused as a child and how it led him on a path of drug use and advertising for sex.
In July it was revealed Jonathan and co-star Antoni Porowski were “officially a couple and in love”, according to their Netflix co-star Karamo Brown.
The 38-year-old star left the telling comment under one of Jonathan’s Instagram posts – sending fans into a frenzy.
In the photo, Jonathan is wearing a black halterneck dress and grinning at the camera while Antoni beams at him adoringly.
Antoni is wearing a black leather jacket and white T-Shirt, with the pair preparing to film The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Karamo can be seen looking unimpressed as he makes a rude gesture in the background.
Jonathan captioned the post: “These pics are so cute I posted another one.
“I love my Antoni bae & @karamo , jealousy doesn’t look good on you.”
Karamo commented: “Hahahahaha I love you both! And for all who are asking. It’s real.
“They are a couple and in love. First Fab 5 couple.”
The remark racked up thousands of likes and comments from excited fans, with many thinking that it was too good to be true.
One wrote: “Are they pulling our leg???”
Another replied: “I don’t know if this is real but imagine if.”
A third said: “Karamo, don’t toy with our emotions!”
Jonathan and Antoni are thought to be the only single members of Queer Eye’s iconic Fab Five, and they have teased fans with dating rumours in the past.
On that account there were several intimate photos of the pair, including one of them brushing their teeth together before bed.
They later admitted that they’d only been joking, writing on social media: “It was all Antoni’s idea, but maybe some day we will fall in love.”
Karamo’s comment comes amid growing speculation after a new topless photo was uploaded to the pair’s joint Instagram account.
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In the pic, both men are topless as they pose in the mirror, with the snap captioned: “We love getting ready for work together.”
Antoni previously dated Trace Lehnoff, but he has not appeared on his Instagram page since April, prompting split rumours.
Meanwhile, Jonathan broke up with boyfriend Wilco Froneman in late 2018.
The two men shot to fame alongside Karamo, Tan France, and Bobby Berk with Netflix series Queer Eye, which premiered last February as a reboot of Bravo series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
In the show, the five stars travel around the US to improve the lives and well-being of contestants with emotionally-charged makeovers.
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