The Spanish actor and director Eduardo Casanova, known among Cubans for his role as Fidel Martínez in the popular series Aída, surprised everyone this Thursday by publicly announcing that he is HIV positive.
She did so through an emotional message on her Instagram account, where she stated that she takes this step "with dignity" and with the hope of helping to break the stigma that still weighs on people living with the virus.
"I HAVE HIV. Today, I break this very unpleasant and painful silence after MANY years. A silence that many of us with HIV have kept and suffered through. I do this WHEN I WANT. WHEN I CAN. I DO IT FOR ME, but I hope this can help more people. I do it my way, through cinema, which is my way of communicating. But above all, I do it WITH DIGNITY. Dignity should be the way that all people with HIV can come out of the closet," wrote the artist.
Casanova, 34 years old, also used his post to announce a new audiovisual project that will address this topic: a documentary film produced by Jordi Évole, set to premiere in theaters next year. "It's not a television program, it's a documentary film," clarified the actor, who stated he feels "deeply happy" despite the fear and uncertainty that comes with sharing such an intimate confession.
According to Casanova himself, his decision stems from a desire to highlight a reality that is still marked by stigma and misinformation. "About 80% of people with HIV have not shared with almost anyone that they have the infection, due to a stigma that condemns us to the most systematic and unjust rejection in the world," he added.
In recent statements to El País, the actor also spoke about his latest work as a creator, the series Silencio, which premiered on December 1 —World AIDS Day— on Movistar Plus+. In it, Casanova explores the evolution of HIV from the beginning of the pandemic to the present, combining “humor, vampires, social critique, and advocacy.”
“Silencio is my first series as showrunner, screenwriter, and director. I previously directed a commissioned series [Nacho, about Nacho Vidal], where I could leave my mark, but this one is completely mine,” the actor explained in an interview with the Spanish media.
“El silencio that people with HIV experience today is terrifying,” he emphasized. During the promotion of Silencio, Casanova expressed his intention to change the traditional narrative surrounding HIV and AIDS: “It’s always the same: memory, gay men, drug-addicted men, catastrophe, and death,” he noted.
His announcement has been met with support from colleagues, friends, and followers. Eduardo Casanova, known for his transgressive style and commitment to social causes, sets a new example of bravery and sensitivity. His message, “I do it with dignity,” is also a call for empathy and a fight against the stigma that still surrounds HIV.
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