The Sun newspaper in the UK has been accused of spreading the HIV stigma with a salacious celebrity story this morning.
The piece, which is published on the front page with the headline “Hollywood HIV panic” claims a Hollywood actor has been diagnosed with the illness but doesn’t go on to reveal their identity.
The Sun story reads: “Hollywood was gripped with fear last night after a womanising A-list actor was diagnosed with HIV,” but the paper claim to keep the identity of the actor private out of respect.
However, that didn’t stop them alluding to a series of anonymous “high-profile sexual partners” of the movie star.
The piece also alludes to the legal battles that could begin once the actor’s identity is revealed.
The actor in question has chosen to keep his illness confidential.
The front page and story has caused outrage on Twitter, with users posting a series of messages condemning the poor choice of reporting on the story:
What year we in? Feel physically revulsed by The Sun’s stigmatising of HIV. Irresponsible, rancid, backward. #FFS pic.twitter.com/MGgbJVr02n
— Stewart Who? (@DJstewartwho) November 11, 2015
New low for The Sun. Undoing years of HIV education & removal of prejudice. Where’s the actor’s right to privacy? https://t.co/d1CHV6reD6 — L (729) (@MrsCupcake79) November 11, 2015
I see The Sun have followed up/regurgitated that Radar Online report from a few weeks ago about a Hollywood star with HIV.
— Mark Worgan (@worgztheowl) November 11, 2015
Bearing in mind all the years of education and campaigns to overcome the stigma of HIV and AIDS, The Sun sticks THAT on its front page?!?! — Michael J. Poulter (@MichaelJPoulter) November 10, 2015
@MrsCupcake79 @mrnickharvey @danwootton @TheSun they dont let human rights get inthe way of a good story. Never have. Never will
— thompson Carole (@carolemchart) November 11, 2015
According to The Independent, an estimated 100,000 people are living with HIV in the UK. A report into the illness in Ireland in 2014 shows new HIV cases have reached their highes
t point in five years with 377 new cases last year, compared to 341 in 2013, a rise of 11%.
Last year reported the highest number of people living with HIV since 2009, although there has been a further 168 cases added to this figure in the first half of this year.
