Rapper Cardi B recently got candid with her followers about HIV and the importance of caring for one’s health and well-being. During a livestream video, the mother of three also urged her followers to consider taking the once-daily medication, PrEP, saying it’s for “everybody,” not just gay men. And Cardi B isn’t the only celebrity discussing the effectiveness of PrEP. Actor Lukas Gage recently spoke with The Blast about the medication, calling it an empowering move.
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Cardi B Sparks Conversation With Statement About HIV And PrEP
According to a report from Complex, Cardi B was one of the many celebrities who attended the MISTR’s National PrEP Day at The Abbey in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, October 9.
Following the event, Cardi went live to speak with her followers about the importance of PrEP, also known as pre-exposure prophylaxis. For those unfamiliar, the medication is a once-daily pill that can prevent the transmission of HIV by 99%.
And while HIV affects members of the LGBTQ+ community at a higher rate, Cardi B acknowledged that the medication is available for all.
“I understand where the stigma came from and everything. HIV is really, like, high in the gay community. But why you think these b-tches don’t be having that sh-t?” she asked. “Y’all b-tches needa take that sh-t too. This sh-t for everybody.”
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Cardi B Shares Stance On PrEP
Elsewhere during her livestream, Cardi B made another statement about taking PrEP, saying people would “most likely catch something from f-cking a rich n-gga that a broke n-gga.”
“That’s math,” she said. “You see how we doing algebra? 1+1 = take the PrEP.”
Cardi B also took a moment to respond to users who expressed genuine concern over the side effects of taking PrEP, which could impact one’s liver and kidneys, according to Stanford Health Care.
“Baby, I’d rather my liver and kidneys be messed up than my p—y,” she said.
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Tamar Braxton Urged Followers To Take PrEP
As previously reported by The Blast, reality star Tamar Braxton told her followers that she was also taking PrEP, saying she’s not the type to be “outside.” Braxton went on to explain that she’s uninterested in dating anyone who may have an extensive dating history.
“Dawg, like all of you is dating the same dude,” she continued. “Like, y’all is sharing the same dude. Like, it’s giving, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,” she sang to the tune of Cherrelle’s song “Saturday Love.”
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Lukas Gage Tells The Blast About The Importance Of Caring For One’s Sexual Health
And Braxton and Cardi aren’t alone in their thoughts. “White Lotus” star Lukas Gage, who is gearing up to release his new memoir on October 14, shared a similar sentiment while speaking with The Blast in September about the importance of having conversations around taboo topics like sexual health.
“I think that the way that we become knowledgeable is to have an open conversation about these things and to not live in fear and uncertainty,” he said. “The way that we just bring awareness is that we step away from the taboo and from the stigma that we have wrapped around these topics.”
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Gage Says Being On PrEP Is An Act Of Empowerment
Like the others, Gage mentioned PrEP, calling it an act of empowerment before encouraging individuals to speak with medical professionals and other trusted individuals about how the medication could help.
“It might feel like a scary step, but you just have to take the leap. And if you are uncomfortable talking to your primary care doctor, you might consider telehealth options where you can talk to someone from the comfort of your home. Regardless, there is nothing to be ashamed of. The more we talk about sex and how to have safe sex the less taboo it becomes,” Gage said.
In his book, Gage will also touch on deeply personal struggles, like his addiction to sex and borderline personality disorder—all of which contributed to the title, “I Wrote This For Attention.”
“The message that I share throughout the book is that the little boy who was desperate for attention and love and validation became a man who was also a little bit desperate for love and validation and attention,” he said. “I try to share how that manifested. And I try to put a different spin on our innate human need for attention, our desire to be seen, and show how you can do that in a positive way instead of only being seen for negative attention.”
