Danny Roberts first made headlines back in 2000 when he appeared on MTV’s The Real World. At the time, he was dating a male military officer during the height of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, bringing attention to the discriminatory law. Now, 18 years later, he’s making headlines again.
On the eve of World AIDS Day, the retired reality star just revealed that he’s living with HIV in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
“The reason I want to share this story is that I spent so long battling and beating myself up for my own misconceptions and bigotry,” he says.
He adds: “It is difficult to admit the negative feelings you had about a set of people and state of being based on made-up stories.”
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Roberts first learned he was positive in 2011 and says it took him a while to accept the diagnosis.
He recalls:
My first reaction was shock. Then I was angry, then lots of denial. Those early years were very difficult and very lonely. You don’t know whom to turn to have conversation and people don’t know what to say. It’s not something that people have experience with. There’s also the potential likelihood of massive judgments about what behaviors led to this and what kind of people this happens to.
He also described living with HIV as “having a crappy old cell phone with a huge app eating your energy.”
The 41-year-old, who is now undetectable, says he’s in a much better place today.
“I had so many negative feelings I was forced to face,” he says. “I’ve been on such a journey to overcome that. In a way, this has really been like my second coming out.”
He is also hopeful for the future.
“Medicine has come so far,” he says. “It’s incredible where we are and where we could be not far in the future.”
Related: Hunky Broadway star Hernando Umana: “I am a proud gay man living with HIV”
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Vince
I had such a crush on him in Real World. Of coarse many did. Damn. Seems like yesterday and in other ways a million years ago. At least the last time I watched MTV for anything.
I’m glad he’s coming out about it. Yes. What a difference the era you live in makes. Pedro Zemora on Real World SF died when there wasn’t much hope. I was also reading that his partner Sean Sassor died in 2013 of Mesothelioma. That after being hiv positive for 25 years.
Tony1129
I totally agree!
Vince
Btw. When you edit your post it will send it to the dreaded “comment waiting for moderation” which of coarse means it will never see the light of day. Lol
frankcar1965
I have the comment waiting for moderation thing and then it showed up, obviously no one was moderating it since it went through really quickly. I don’t know what that is all about.
Geeker
Well, that’s depressing.
spacecadet
What’s depressing? He’s happy and he’s healthy. There shouldn’t be a stigma with having HIV anymore.
Chrisk
That’s also what I was thinking. Not once reading this where I thought anything was depressing. Little twink Danny has grown up into a man. One that looks good, healthy and happy. Not to mention brave for exposing himself to some people wanting to shame him for it.
No his life isn’t perfect but maybe yours isn’t either…
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frankcar1965
Yep not depressing but I still don’t get the need to “come out”. No one needs to feel ashamed but why the need to come out in the media, I don’t get it.
PollyDarton
Who?
Chrisk
If you’re below the age of 40 you probably wouldn’t know. Real world was big back in it’s day. Seeing an out gay man on TV in a reality series was something new.
tjr101
I’m under 40 and can remember him and the show like it was yesterday.
spacecadet
I’m under 40 too and know of him. I think plenty of people in their 30’s would know about him because they would have been teenagers or pre-teens when his show was on and that was the main demographic for MTV. Danny Roberts, as an out gay man (and so cute too) was a big draw for me to tune in for every episode as I was slowing starting to come out myself around then.
Anyway, glad Danny is still living happy and healthy – having HIV is definitely a manageable condition in modern times and it would be wonderful to one day witness it being eradicated.
Chrisk
Yeah that was my mistake. I should’ve said under 30. MTV was made for young people.
queerty02
He deactivated his insta I guess. I love him 4ever. An all time most gorgeous guy.
spacecadet
I just checked it out and it seems quite active to me!
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Gawd I was crushing on him big time! Who knew he would turn into a semi-Bear??
spacecadet
I don’t think he’s a bear at all honestly. He definitely doesn’t look like a young boy anymore with the fully grown beard but he still has a relatively slim figure. I’d say he’s more of an otter.
nitejonboy
I had the biggest crush on him back in 2000. I was actually living in 2000 during part of their filming but I couldn’t figure out where they lived so I couldn’t meet him. Man I wanted a piece of him!! So nice to see he is still just as yummy!!
nitejonboy
EDIT: I mean to say I was living in New Orleans during their season
Black Pegasus
So did his military boyfriend give him the HIV?
Dwik27
I posted a reply earlier – discussing how HIV should still be taken seriously as a major risk to your health. Queerty deleted it. WTF?
frankcar1965
Well yea it is a serious risk, but so is Diabetes and Heart disease, who said it wasn’t? And so is riding in a car too. Why would you say that at all, unless you were going to break out with JUDGEMENT. The difference is that HIV has to do with GAY SEX which is a big stigma as is SEX in general in the US. Sex in many countries is not a big deal and people don’t fixate and obsess over it either.
TVC 15
He was cute back then, but damn, he’s hella sexy now.