Famous Black Celebrities Who Are Living With HIV

For as long as we’ve known about HIV/AIDS, people have had to handle the reality of coming out as living with HIV. Disclosing your HIV status to family and friends is often difficult and when you’re in the public eye, coming out as living with HIV adds a major decision about whether you want the whole world to know.

Many celebrities have chosen to share that part of themselves with the public. Often, that choice helps the rest of us: By coming out, they can humanize the virus for many people who don’t otherwise know anybody who’s openly living with HIV. They can help increase awareness and fight stigma.

Here’s a rundown of some of the most famous black people living with HIV.

Criselda Kananda

The radio DJ and social media personality was diagnosed 15 years ago when there seemed no hope in sight for pregnant moms and babies. Criselda currently sits on the board of the South African National Aids Council and is the proud mother of three.

Musa ‘Queen’ Njoko

Musa Njoko, a well-known gospel singer, has had HIV for more than 20 years.

She claimed in a recent tweet that despite being given only a few months to live, she has fought the illness for years.

“He was just under 2yrs when I was diagnosed with HIV. I was given 3 months to live due to my condition then. By the grace of God I’ve lived to see him not only start school but become an international star on his own right now doing an ad for big brandOros,” she tweeted.

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson, an NBA star, has had AIDS for many years. In 1991, he made his status known. Magic has spoken out about how he contracted the virus as well. He claims that he had sex with several women while he was a basketball player.

I am certain that I was infected by having unprotected sex with a woman who has the virus.” The problem is that I can’t pinpoint the time, the place, or the woman. It’s a matter of numbers. Before I was married, I truly lived a bachelor’s life. I’m no Wilt Chamberlain, but as I traveled around NBA cities, I was never at a loss for female companionship. “I confess that after I arrived in L.A. in 1979, I did my best to accommodate as many women as I could—most of them through unprotected sex,” he was quoted as saying in the Los Angeles Times.

Like many men, I had always wondered what it was like to be with more than one woman at a time. There were times when I was able to arrange such an evening with two women or more. “I know how I got the HIV virus.” That’s clear. But I don’t know who gave it to me, “he said

Saidy Brown

Saidy Brown, the young actress, now 23, is among the Mzansi celebrities with HIV. She found out at the age of 14 that she was carrying the virus. She contracted the disease from her parents, who succumbed to it. Her dad died when she was nine, and her mum followed him a year later.

She first learned of her condition during an HIV test that was conducted at her school. She was shocked by the results and kept the information to herself for six months before telling her aunt, who then told her about the status of her parents and how she might have acquired the illness. She continued to live in denial for the following two years and didn’t start taking the medication until she was 16 years old when her body started to deteriorate.

The vocal Saidy Brown believes she was born for a purpose as she did not die soon after birth, as is the unfortunate case of many born with HIV. Despite being turned down because of her status, she never hesitates to tell those she plans to date about her HIV status.