A rising star from the beloved Disney film Lilo & Stitch has died of AIDS at the age of 27. Sources confirm the actor passed away in a London hospital last Thursday after a private battle with the disease. The death has sent shockwaves through the British entertainment industry, sparking renewed calls for AIDS awareness and funding.
The actor, who played a supporting role in the 2002 animated feature, had been diagnosed with HIV four years ago but kept the condition secret from the public. Friends say the star feared stigma would end a promising career. 'They were terrified of being blacklisted,' a close associate told me. 'In the end, the silence killed them.'
Documents obtained by our newsroom reveal that the actor's medical records show the virus was detected late, and complications from pneumonia proved fatal. The death has reignited a painful debate about the industry's neglect of health crises. British actors and activists have already scheduled a vigil for next week, urging the government to increase funding for HIV prevention and treatment.
'We are losing a generation to this disease because of shame and secrecy,' a leading AIDS charity director said. 'This tragedy must be a wake-up call.'
The actor's family released a statement begging for privacy, but also calling for 'an end to the silence around AIDS.' The star is survived by a partner and a young daughter.
The death marks the latest blow to an industry still mourning the loss of talent to preventable illnesses. As I write this, colleagues are gathering in Soho to remember a young life cut short. The cost of stigma is measured in lives. And the bill has come due.
