Big Brother season 8 winner and Big Brother 13 house guest Dick Donato is HIV positive. While on the show, he was known as being rude, nasty, and vile, but people still seemed to love him. He’ll always be a fan favorite. Donato, also known as Evel Dick, has been living with HIV since 2011. When he suddenly left the Big Brother house on season 13, fans of the show were wondering why he left.
Dick found out about his diagnosis while on the show, saying, “Producers told me that something was wrong with my blood test,” he said. “They had done two HIV tests. One had come back positive and the other had come back negative.” His revelation will appear on tonight’s episode of VH1’s Couple’s Therapy. Donato appears with his girlfriend, Stephanie Rogness-Fischer, on the show.
The first person he told was his mother. Others who knew were his Big Brother cast mate, Rachel Reily. Rachel told TMZ she wishes that he wouldn’t have left the game. “If he had a meeting with everyone it would have been a way to give the disease a voice.” She also said, “It’s reality TV. I think it’s cool he is talking about it 3 years later and I hope this changes people’s lives. I think it’s brave of him.”
Dick lets us know that he’s not gay or a drug user, and he believes he contracted the disease from unprotected sex. He also says after finding out he was afraid to tell his girlfriend. Once he did, she was very understanding.
As for his health, Dick says he’s healthy and will now use this platform to teach others to practice safe sex.