Magic Johnson is leading the tributes to HIV advocate Hydeia Broadbent, who was born with the virus and died on Monday.
Broadbent moved the nation at the age of 11 when she shared her heartbreaking story of being diagnosed with HIV with Oprah in 1996 moving the host to tears.
Johnson, who also has HIV, interviewed the future activist four years earlier when she was seven on his show, ‘A Conversation with Magic Johnson’
Broadbent spent her life addressing the stigma surrounding the virus, especially during the AIDS crisis in the US in the 1990s when such diagnosis meant certain death.
Johnson took to social media to offer his condolences and share his thoughts.
Magic Johnson and Hydeia Broadbent at an event – they met when the HIV advocate was seven
Johnson comforted the young Broadbent when she cried talking about her virus on the show
He wrote: ‘I’m devastated to hear about the passing of an incredible young woman, activist and hero Hydeia Broadbent.
‘In 1992, I did a Nickelodeon special called ‘A Conversation with Magic’, and 7-year-old Hydeia and I made an incredible impact.
‘Hydeia changed the world with her bravery, speaking about how living with HIV affected her life since birth.
‘She dedicated her life to activism and became a change agent in the HIV/AIDS fight.
‘By speaking out at such a young age, she helped so many people, young and old, because she wasn’t afraid to share her story and allowed everyone to see that those living with HIV and AIDS were everyday people and should be treated with respect.
‘Thanks to Hydeia, millions were educated, stigmas were broken, and attitudes about HIV/AIDs were changed.
After hearing about the girl’s ordeal, Winfrey had begun to well up during the interview
Since then, Broadbent had become a HIV/AIDS advocate and spent her life addressing the stigma surrounding the virus, especially during the AIDS crisis in the US in the 1990s when such diagnosis meant certain death
‘We will miss her powerful voice in this world.
‘Cookie and I are praying for the Broadbent family and everyone that knew and loved Hydeia.’
Broadbent’s HIV developed into AIDS when she was just five-years-old.
Actress and Broadbent’s childhood friend, Jurnee Smollett has also paid tribute, saying that she was a trailblazer.
Smollett said: ‘I thank God for her light, her will.’
‘I will miss her laughter, her dancing, her joyous smile that lit up her beautiful big cheeks, her awful taste in tv shows, her hilarious way of making fun of how I’m really a boring nerd inside, our drives listening to music really loud, the tears we shed over heartbreaks, the way she wore her heart on her sleeve and was unable to get through a motivational talk without tearing up at some point.
‘Courage was her middle name. A literal goddess with an otherworldly strength. A warrior’s heart who fought till the end. Rest well beautiful one.’
Father, Loren Broadbent announced his daughter’s death on Facebook and said she had ‘remained determined to spread hope.’
According to Kimberley R. McCoy, a family member, Broadbent was on dialysis and on life support last year.
Hydeia Broadbent shot to global fame at the age of 11 when she shared her heartbreaking story of being diagnosed with HIV with Winfrey on her namesake show in 1996
But on February 20, Loren Broadbent announced his daughter’s death on Facebook and said she had ‘remained determined to spread hope.’
‘With great sadness, I must inform you all that our beloved friend, mentor and daughter Hydeia, passed away today after living with (HIV) since birth.
‘Despite facing numerous challenges throughout her life, Hydeia remained determined to spread hope and positivity through education around HIV/AIDS,’ the sorrowful father wrote on the social media page.
Shortly after being abandoned by her biological mother, who was addicted to drugs, in Nevada as an infant, Broadbent was adopted by Loren and Patricia Broadbent.
Until the age of six, the young child was tagging along with her mother, a social worker, as she raised HIV awareness – and soon after began to talk to people about the condition herself.
During her appearance on Oprah, Broadbent revealed that living with the disease was the hardest part of life for her and explained the problems it had caused her
On the Oprah show in 1996, Broadbent went into detail about the effect the virus has on her life – and it brought the host to tears.
She said: ‘I had fungus in my brain, blood infections and pneumonia. I went cold blue a couple of times and that was when I was five.
‘A lot of my friends have died of AIDS. Because I don’t have a choice. And I see so many people living recklessly. Just putting their lives on the line. At what point do we get it?
‘You are not just dealing with HIV, AIDS. We have to address a person’s mental state because if I don’t feel good and I’m not happy and I don’t want to get out of bed, I’m not going to take these pills to save my life.’
After hearing this, Winfrey had begun to well up during the interview.
A GoFundMe for Broadbent has been launched by her father in order to ‘lay her to rest’.
‘Hi I am Loren Broadbent the father of Hydeia Broadbent. Yesterday afternoon Hydeia unexpectedly passed away. Our hearts are broken.
‘Hydeia spent her whole life since the age of five showing us all how to love, fight, and speak up for those affected with HIV and AIDS.
‘And as much as I wish she was still here fighting the great fight, God called her home. Letting us all know. Job well done.
‘In honor of her memory the family would like to lay her to rest. So at this time we are asking for donations. Along with well wishes and prayers. We would like to thank you in advance.’
The crowdfunding page has raised $3,438 out of its $20,000 goal.
Broadbent told Oprah in the 1996 interview that people’s mental state must be addressed
On her 34th birthday, Broadbent wrote a blog post on her website celebrating the milestone as someone in ‘the first generation of children born HIV positive’
A GoFundMe for Broadbent has been launched by her father in order to ‘lay her to rest’
Despite being a passionate activist, Broadbentwas open about her personal struggles with mental health.
On her 34th birthday she wrote a blog post on her website saying: ‘These last few years have been extremely difficult; struggles with depression, which reached scary points.
‘A depression so dark, I was not sure how I would see the beauty in life again. I was unsure of how I’d pull myself back up. I now have a new outlook, I’m able to now see the blessing’s, and lesson’s from my valley. I am a warrior, I raise each day, with purpose, while still being a work in progress.’