Former rugby ace Gareth Thomas fought back tears as he appeared on This Morning to talk about being forced to reveal his HIV status.
Chatting with hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield via video link, the retired fullback explained that modern medicine has moved on and living with HIV is no longer a death sentence.
He told them: “[Medicine] has moved on so far and living with HIV isn’t a condition that affects my life span in any way.
“It’s selfish to make it about me, it’s about everyone living with HIV. It doesn’t just affect them, it affects their parents, it affects their friends.”
'It is not connected to death, it's connected to life, and living with, and that is what I'm doing to the maximum.' @gareththomas14 #ThisMorning pic.twitter.com/y3V2A4bwl5
— This Morning (@thismorning) September 17, 2019
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Gareth was recently forced to reveal he is HIV+ after being “blackmailed” by people who knew about it.
He admitted to having experienced “suicidal thoughts” and as he talked about the impact on his family, he began to choke up – fighting back tears in an effort to continue with the interview.
Gareth said on the programme that as a society, “nobody has to be afraid” if they just understand that HIV can be treated and there’s no risk of it being passed on.
He added: “I’ve come out fighting to change not just the views of people living with it, but society [as a whole].”
Phil asked about the blackmail and Gareth told him: “You get pushed into a corner and people have power over you.”
Asked if the blackmailers were demanding money, the Welshman said: “I was basically being asked for a lot of things, a lot of things that I couldn’t physically deliver.
“When people demand something from you and you don’t give it, it goes up and up until you get to the point where you think [I’ve just got to do it].”
He went on to say that he decided not to get the police involved, explaining: “You know what, I don’t want to go any further. I don’t want to take further steps. To me, this whole thing is not about me.”
On Twitter, heartbroken viewers offered messages of support and positivity.
Watching #ThisMorning interview with Gareth Thomas, it’s heartbreaking but omg he is amazing and so brave! Takes so much to do what he did, he should never of been put in that position the scum who tried to blackmail him disgust me x #ProudOfGareth
— Dawny 🌹🥂🍾😘 (@Cuppy_xx) September 17, 2019
I didn’t know who Gareth Thomas was before he hit the news this week. What. A. Man. It takes immense courage to open yourself up like that and shame on the person who forced his hand. @thismorning #ThisMorning #GarethThomas #HIV #banishthestigma
— Rachel (@rachelxconvey) September 17, 2019
Positivity and amazing mental attitude is part of the battle….I wish Gareth Thomas so much happiness and health. ❤ #ThisMorning
— Vix (@PrincessxVx) September 17, 2019
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One said: “Watching #ThisMorning interview with Gareth Thomas, it’s heartbreaking but OMG he is amazing and so brave! Takes so much to do what he did, he should never have been put in that position. The scum who tried to blackmail him disgust me x #ProudOfGareth.”
Another wrote: “I didn’t know who Gareth Thomas was before he hit the news this week. What. A. Man. It takes immense courage to open yourself up like that and shame on the person who forced his hand. @thismorning #ThisMorning #GarethThomas #HIV #banishthestigma.”
Someone else tweeted: “Positivity and amazing mental attitude is part of the battle… I wish Gareth Thomas so much happiness and health.”
A number of famous faces have also praised Gareth for his bravery, including Prince William.
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