On the latest steamy episode of I Kissed a Boy, BBC Three’s unapologetically queer dating show, contestant Adam dropped a truth bomb that sent shockwaves through the villa — and beyond. While lounging with his castmates, the marketing and brand manager from Reading peeled back the gloss of reality TV and shared a raw and powerful moment: his HIV diagnosis.
“I’ve got anxiety going through my body right now,” Adam began, visibly emotional. “Four years ago, I was diagnosed with HIV. When I was diagnosed, it nearly killed me off. My whole body shut down until it regenerated when I was on the pills.” That moment wasn’t just brave — it was revolutionary.
Speaking later in a confessional, Adam didn’t hold back. “I thought I was going to die. I was so uneducated around what [an HIV diagnosis] actually means,” he admitted. But with time, treatment, and education, he’s come out stronger. “Taking one pill a day means you can’t pass HIV on. Undetectable equals Untransmittable. I’m in a good place now.”
Shaking Stigma with Sass and Strength
Adam’s story isn’t just about survival — it’s about slaying stigma. “Someone said to me the other day during a sexual health test, ‘Are you clean?’ But you shouldn’t say that. Because does that make me dirty? Because I have HIV, and I’m undetectable?” he asked, calling out the casual ignorance still haunting conversations around sexual health.
Let’s be clear: Adam isn’t just “living with HIV” — he’s thriving. “It’s made me incredibly empathetic,” he shared. “I think it’s important to show that people can be successful, live healthy lives and have relationships as much as people without HIV.” And yes, honey, that includes getting steamy on national TV.
The term Undetectable = Untransmittable isn’t just a slogan — it’s a scientific fact. People who maintain an undetectable viral load thanks to proper treatment literally cannot transmit HIV, even during unprotected sex. And still, over 70% of UK adults remain unaware of this.
A Queer Moment with Mass Impact
The LGBTQ community has long been burdened by silence and stigma around HIV. That’s why Adam’s moment matters. Viewers, activists, and sexual health experts are praising him for turning a reality TV kiss-fest into an education moment with heart. “Adam sharing his story as someone living with HIV is an incredibly special moment,” said one HIV advocate. “It will have impact far beyond the masseria.”
And it already has. The cast didn’t bat a false eyelash at the revelation — they embraced Adam fully. In a landscape where HIV is still whispered about in shame, this kind of visibility hits different. Adam isn’t just part of the show’s drama — he’s rewriting the script on what it means to date with HIV.
Power, Pills, and Pride
Adam also penned a love letter to his younger self on Instagram, serving vulnerable realness: “You will fall in love with who you are. You will become strong, fierce, and one of a kind.” Yes, queen.
And for those still learning: HIV is manageable. PrEP, available via the NHS, offers up to 99% protection against HIV when taken correctly — and it’s changing the game for queer sex positivity. Adam’s courage isn’t just personal; it’s political. It’s public health. It’s pride.
For the LGBTQ community, especially young queer people watching at home, Adam’s vulnerability could mean everything. In a world still littered with ignorance and shame, this kind of honesty doesn’t just heal — it slays.