SOLVED!

[Media Take Out] We just received word that a VERY popular African American celebrity – who has recently been in the news – now has what is being described as AIDS. Obviously since we are not able to 100% confirm the story – we’re going to leave it as a Blind Item. We want to make it clear we are NOT talking about Magic Johnson.

This report really hurt our heart.

According to a person extremely close to the situation, the celebrity, who is known for having a very extreme sexual past reportedly contracted the illness sometime in the 1990s. He kept the illness quiet but began taking his medication religiously up until about 2 years ago. Here’s what we’re told by a VERY trusted entertainment insider:

[The celebrity] believed that he was cured, and he had some crazy [religious] people who told him that God cured him. So he stopped taking his medication and the sickness came back. Now doctors say he’s dying, and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

We’re told that the celebrity is expected to get sicker and sicker, and eventually pass. It can happen as soon as the summer.

Very sad news.

Similar: Superstar Is HIV-positive

Celebrity:

[Optional] Surprised or not surprised?

SOLVED!

Celebrity: Prince

Prince died of AIDS just three days after we ran this blind item.

While most of the conversations about Prince’s demise have centered around reports of a recent flu and a recent drug overdose, those issues do not tell the full story.

Prince had AIDS. He had suffered with the illness for many years. Those close to him knew both of his illness and his desire to keep it a secret.

In the past few days, multiple sources have confirmed different parts of the AIDS story.

People Magazine hedged its bets by simply referring to it as a “serious and ongoing illness” “which made his immune system weak”:

Prince May Have Struggled with a ‘Serious Illness’ Before Sudden Death, Source Says: ‘People Close to Him Were Very Concerned’ A source who worked with him a few years ago believes he was grappling with a serious and ongoing illness at the time. “The people close to him were very concerned for his health and indicated he’d been undergoing treatments which made his immune system weak,” the source tells People.

The National Enquirer and Radar Online (owned by the same parent company) have been much more direct.

From The National Enquirer:

Prince — Agonizing Final Days After AIDS Diagnosis Rock star Prince was diagnosed with AIDS just six months before his death — but refused medical treatment, believing he could be cured by prayer!

From Radar Online:

Prince AIDS Shocker: Iconic Singer Was ‘Preparing To Die’ Prince shocked the world when he collapsed and died at age 57 in the elevator of his Chanhassen, Minn., recording studio Thursday, but an insider exclusively told The National ENQUIRER that the megastar was “preparing to die for a little while” — because he had been diagnosed with AIDS! A music industry source interviewed by The ENQUIRER messaged friends on April 19 to reveal Prince had full-blown AIDS. “He was in bad shape,” the source revealed. “Doctors told Prince his blood count was unusually low and that his body temperature had dropped dangerously below the normal 98.6 degrees to 94 degrees,” said the source. “He was totally iron-deficient, very weak and often disoriented. He rarely ate and when he did, it all came right back up.” In another bombshell revelation, a well-placed insider said Prince had been making runs to a local pharmacy to pick up bags of prescriptions to quell the unbearable pain he was suffering from what was reported to be influenza. An employee at the Walgreens that served Prince told The Enquirer, “We were all just shocked that he came in last night looking so beat. We said, ‘We are praying for you.’” Prince’s response? “He said, almost under his breath, ‘Maybe if you prayed for me a year ago it’d be different right now.’ Then he waved and said thanks anyway.” According to the worker, Prince often picked up his own meds and toiletries at the drugstore chain near his Paisley Park estate. “The last night, though, we sensed he was in trouble. One girl said he had foreign medication and thought it was Zika virus or something, but my friend who knows the meds says he’s sure it was HIV meds.” “I wouldn’t say he’s like a part of the family but he came in and always showed interest in us,” added the employee of Prince. And now the Prince’s loved ones are showing interest in hiding the true cause of his death. According to the insider, Prince’s family is already banging on coroner’s door and demanding officials heavily redact any public autopsy report “to spare family, friends and fans” any information “about his lifestyle that’s sure to come.”

Yes, we knew that the original blind item was about Prince. Some of you figured out that the specific photo we chose of Magic Johnson contained several clues about the subject of the story.

First, and most obviously, Magic Johnson was mentioned in the blind item as a celebrity who is HIV positive.

Second, before moving to L.A., the Los Angeles Lakers were the Minneapolis Lakers. Prince was born in Minneapolis, and his home/studio, Paisley Park, is just southwest of Minneapolis.

Finally, we remembered a photo of Prince as a member of his High School’s basketball team in which he was posed in a similar uniform. Just a kid on a basketball team who would grow up to be a music icon.

Bmj524 was first with the correct response.

Thanks to those of you who shared your memories of growing up with Prince’s music. It was extraordinary, wasn’t it?