Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas reveals newspaper blackmail in documentary

Former Wales rugby great Gareth Thomas has revealed the shocking way his personal battle with HIV became public.

Former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas has said that he would not have revealed his HIV diagnosis if a newspaper had not threatened to publish it.

The 45-year-old revealed at the weekend that he had been blackmailed prior to publicly announcing he had HIV.

Thomas, who completed a 140-mile Ironman triathlon on Sunday, hopes to remove some of the stigma over the disease in a BBC documentary to be aired on Wednesday.

However, he said he felt forced into a corner after a journalist told his parents of his condition before he did.

“I would love to sit here and say yes, but I’d be a hypocrite if I did. Absolutely not. It’s got nothing to do with anyone else,” Thomas said when asked if he would have gone public without the intrusion into his private life.

“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 OK and is going to be able to live through this and live a normal, healthy life.

“That person came and took that moment away from me.”

Gareth Thomas' heartbreaking admission on BBC.

Social media praised Thomas but also lashed the way the news was released.

Bloody hell. That has to be the most moving, inspiring and joyful documentary about HIV I have ever seen in my life. Who’d have thought such a beautiful thing would come out of such a horrendous thing by the media. Floored. The journey you have been on @gareththomas14 🙌❤️ 😭

— Matthew Todd (@MrMatthewTodd) September 18, 2019

This is heart wrenching. Gareth Thomas says that a journalist found out he is HIV positive and told his parents, before even he could. If journalists were treated like doctors, you would get struck off for behaviour like that.pic.twitter.com/dH83Ek2CNF

— Benjamin Butterworth (@benjaminbutter) September 18, 2019

This has moved me close to tears. Extraordinarily wicked for a gutter journalist to reveal this deeply personal story to Gareth Thomas' parents before he had the chance. I want to live in a country where this can’t happen. https://t.co/aqmxUjaipG

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) September 18, 2019

@gareththomas14 wow...just wow! Your bravery and courage to document what you have gone through so honestly and openly in what has clearly been such a traumatic time for you and your family is truly inspirational. You are amazing ❤️#HIVandme @bbc #breakthestigma

— Natalie Anderson (@AndersonNatalie) September 18, 2019

I'm as inspired by @gareththomas14's courage as I am sickened that a journalist could even contemplate doing this, let alone look at themselves in the mirror ever again.

This, and Ben Stokes, again underline that the media urgently needs systemic change. https://t.co/8qRa0Hdf8F

— Owen Jones🌹 (@OwenJones84) September 18, 2019

Thomas’s comments come the day after England cricketer Ben Stokes branded a front-page story in The Sun newspaper about his family “utterly disgusting” and “the lowest form of journalism”.

Both stories have revived the debate surrounding British press ethics.

“The tabloids will create their own law,” added Thomas. “You’ll send them a letter and all they’ll do is ignore it.

“I haven’t got the money to be able to fight a giant tabloid in court.”

Gareth Thomas celebrates finishing an Ironman on the weekend.

Thomas, who retired from professional rugby in 2011, said living with HIV has little impact on his day-to-day life given the advances in medicine other than taking a single pill every day and visiting the hospital for blood tests every six months.