Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness has revealed he’ll be taking a short break from the spotlight to ‘rest up’, just after revealing he is HIV positive.
The 32-year-old opens up about his condition for the first time in his new book Over The Top, in hopes of breaking the stigma surrounding HIV.
After being flooded with warm messages of support, Jonathan told his Instagram followers that he’ll be taking a step back to ‘rest up’ this week before launching his promotional book tour.
In an Instagram Story, the TV star said: ‘Feeling so much love & support. Taking the next few days to rest up, spend time w my bittens & mom before the book tour get going.. I know it’s going to be a lot of hard work but I’m ready.
‘Just want to say thank you all so much especially my queer eye family and countless other friends and family for reaching out today.
‘Not only to the people who I have known but everyone else who has showered me with grace. It truly means the world [sic].’
An extract from Jonathan’s memoir in which he details his health battles, was published in the New York Times.
It revealed how Jonathan fainted one day and was told of his HIV diagnosis the following day at a Planned Parenthood clinic at the age of 25.
‘That day was just as devastating as you would think it would be,’ Jonathan writes.
‘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 stigmatisation of the LGBT community thrive around me”.
‘I do feel the need to talk about this.’
Jonathan received supportive messages from several of his Queer Eye co-stars, including Bobby Berk who commented on Instagram: ‘Love you baby boy. So proud of you,’ while Tan France added: ‘LOVE YOU, JACKI.’
Antoni Porowski added: ‘Love you proud of you.’
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MORE: Queer Eye stars show their support for Jonathan Van Ness as he opens up on living with HIV
MORE: Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness living with HIV as he opens up about ‘devastating’ diagnosis
