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Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness reveals he's HIV positive

Publish Date
Sun, 22 Sep 2019, 11:05AM
Jonathan Van Ness of Netflix's Queer Eye. (Photo / Getty Images)
Jonathan Van Ness of Netflix's Queer Eye. (Photo / Getty Images)

Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness reveals he's HIV positive

Publish Date
Sun, 22 Sep 2019, 11:05AM

Queer Eye fan favourite Jonathan Van Ness has revealed everything from issues with substance abuse, suffering sexual abuse and his HIV status in a tell-all memoir.

A New York Times article reveals details from Van Ness' upcoming book Over The Top, in which Ness opens up about his childhood, struggling to fit in, struggling with his weight and binge eating and with homophobic bullying.

He also reveals he was sexually abused as a child by an older boy, and before the age of 20, developed issues with substance abuse, including advertising sex for money to pay for his cocaine habit and becoming addicted to methamphetamine in his 20s, for which he underwent two stints in rehab.

He also details how, at just 25 years old he received the diagnosis that he is HIV-positive; it was a day which, he writes in his book, was "just as devastating as you'd think it would be".

However he tells the Times he is now healthy, no longer using hard drugs and is a "proud member of the beautiful HIV-positive community."

He says in the interview the memoir is a rare chance for him to be open and honest.

"I've had nightmares every night for the past three months because I'm scared to be this vulnerable with people," 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... these are issues that need to be talked about."

He said one of the reasons he hadn't been able to be as open is because people only want to see his happy side.

"If you're having a terrible moment or in the middle of a conversation about something serious, people don't care. They want their bubbly J.V.N. and to get that major selfie."

This news comes after another interview with Out, in which Van Ness came out as gender-nonconforming and nonbinary.

Over The Top is due for release on September 24.

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