Gareth Thomas says journalist revealed HIV status to his parents

Gareth Thomas has described how a journalist disclosed his HIV status to his parents before he had spoken to them.  

The Welsh rugby legend broke down in tears as he told BBC 5 Live that he had been denied the chance to explain his diagnosis – and that his prognosis was good. 

"I can never have that moment back – to sit down with them and be able to explain to them why their son is going to be okay and going to be able to live through this,” he said. 

"That person came and took that moment from me."

Thomas, 45, came to The Sunday Mirror to share his story in a deeply moving interview this weekend. 

He said he had decided to go public after being blackmailed by another newspaper.

Speaking to the BBC today, he said: "There are a lot of good journalists out there.

"The Sunday Mirror and the Daily Mirror have helped me and are going to stick with me to promote a campaign for the Terrence Higgins Trust.

"It rejuvenated my belief in people."  

Thomas, who came out as gay in 2009,  was told he had HIV several years ago. He is receiving treatment which has left the virus undetectable.

Speaking to the BBC’s Nicky Campbell today, he said: "When you keep a secret, it is very difficult to keep a secret, and when it's so personal there are certain people in your life that you kind of have to tell… and they have somebody else in their life who they feel they need to tell, and suddenly that secret gets out of control.

“You become really vulnerable when you give people a secret because to them you become a target or you become weak because they have this power over you."

Thomas said he didn't think his parents had to know and that he "needed to understand everything" about his diagnosis before deciding whether to tell them.

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