Rupert Everett ‘ran in opposite direction’ when his partner was diagnosed with HIV in 80s
“I was terrified of it, and of him, at a certain point too"
Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: ITV
Rupert Everett has said he “ran in the opposite direction” when his boyfriend was diagnosed with HIV in the 1980s.
The Happy Prince actor recalled the relationship on the latest issue of Piers Morgan’s Life Stories.
The star added that he was “terrified” when the epidemic hit, adding he was “very lucky” to have avoided contracting the virus.
“I was scared s***less”
On the programme, host Piers said to Rupert: “You had a boyfriend who got HIV and it developed into AIDS, and it must have been terrifying for you and for him.”
The Next Best Thing actor replied: “I was terrified of it, and of him, at a certain point too.
“I certainly don’t think it was me at my best, and what’s difficult for people to imagine now is what a drawn out and painful and humiliating and scary death it was too.
“Some friends of mine who survived it and didn’t have it were so amazing to their lovers and to their friends. I wasn’t. I was scared s**tless by it and kind of ran in the opposite direction.”
Rupert, who identifies as gay but has had sexual and romantic relationships with women (“I loved anyone who fancied me” he told Piers), also recalled the first time he heard of HIV and Aids.
He said at that precise moment his female lover at the time was “in the bath and I was watching the television, and this picture of this guy I used to sleep with came up.
“And I knew, the world literally stood still, and as the sound came in, they said: ‘This guy is one of the first people to get the new gay cancer.’ So I was really horrified and in shock from then on, and we were immediately outcast.”
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