Conchita Wurst is HIV positive – Eurovision-winning drag queen reveals health battle after her ‘ex-boyfriend tried to blackmail her’
EUROVISION winner Conchita Wurst has revealed she is HIV positive after an ex-boyfriend allegedly tried to blackmail her.
The Austrian transvestite and singer, known as the "bearded lady", made the shock announcement on social media.
Conchita - whose real name is Thomsas Neuwirth, 29 - said she has been receiving treatment for several years.
Wurst, who won the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Rise Like a Phoenix, wrote on Instagram: "Already for many years I am HIV-positive."
The drag queen claimed she had to break her news after an ex-boyfriend - who she hasn't named - threatened to tell the media about her condition.
She said: "Also in the future I will give nobody the right to frighten me and influence my life because of it. Coming out is better than being out-leaked by third parties."
She said she is physically in good shape.
According to Wurst, the virus is "for many years without interruption below the detection limit" so she is not able to pass on the virus.
She added that her being HIV-positive is only a matter for her "private partners".
Wurst also said that she wanted to take a step against the stigmatisation of people infected with HIV through no fault of their own.
She said: "By sharing this I freed myself from the sword of Damocles for the rest of my life."
HEALTH BATTLE: Conchita reveals she is HIV positive
Today is the day to free me from the sword of Damocles for the rest of my life: I have been hiv-positive for many years.
This is actually irrelevant to the public, but an ex-boyfriend threatens me to go public with this private information, and I will not give anyone the right to frighten me and affect my life in the future.
Since I received the diagnosis, I am in medical treatment, and for many years without interruption under the detection limit, so that so not able to pass on the virus.
I did not want to go public with it for a couple of reasons so far, I just want to mention two of them here: the most important one was my family, which has known and supported me unconditionally since day one.
I would have gladly spared you the attention of the hiv status of your son, grandson and brother. Likewise, my friends have been aware of this for quite some time and are dealing with it in an unbiased way that I would wish to everyone and everyone concerned.
Secondly, it is an information that I believe is mainly relevant to those people with whom sexual contact is an option.
Coming out is better than being outed by third.
I hope to build up courage and take another step against the stigmatization of people who have become infected by hiv, either through their own behavior or through no fault of their own.
To my fans: the information about my hiv status may be new to you - my status is not! I'm well and well, and I'm stronger, more motivated and liberated than ever. Thank you for your support!
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Wurst said that the main reason for not speaking out before was to spare her family from media attention.
The gay icon said that some of her friends have known already for years.
But she added: "They're dealing with it with an ease that I would wish to anyone and everyone affected."
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