TMZ exclusively reveals that a cast member of Logo's Finding Prince Charming will come out as HIV positive to eligible bachelor Robert Sepulveda Jr. on an episode of the show.
I'm not thrilled with the stunt aspect. I remember thinking this of RuPaul's Drag Race and Project Runway, too, when cast members announced their status—on those shows, the announcement was not pre-hyped—but I feel like this treatment inadvertently tends to make it seem like HIV is really rare and that when someone in a group comes out about their status, that must mean everyone else is HIV negative.
On Finding Prince Charming, I would be surprised if everyone else on the show is negative; when I'm meeting guys, I assume everyone is positive and proceed as such. I have to imagine Sepulveda is not new to this concept and knows a trick or two about safer sex.
I just hope (against hope) the show will handle the issue sensitively (will PrEP come up? because the concept of being undetectable undoubtedly will) and not make it into a big sob story about how the contestant contracted HIV—I guess I am imagining some kind of dreary you didn't deserve it! speech.
But while I've clearly already decided the show isn't for me, I won't assume the worst about how they handle this topic and will instead wait and see when that episode hits.
(Image via Logo)
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