Albert Delègue was ski instructor in Mérilheu, France, when he was spotted by a modeling talent agent in 1989. Delègue was intrigued and soon switching careers. He quickly became successful, working for such brands as Versace, Valentino, Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani. His contract with Armani was rumored to be worth 5 million francs (nearly $1 million Euros).
His family reported that Albert suffered a serious ski accident in August 1994 that left him paralyzed. In March 1995 he was admitted to the hospital. His family announced he had died on April 14, 1995, as a result of complications due to his accident.
But within a week, the truth had been revealed. Media outlets reported that Delègue’s cause of death was AIDS-related encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). But family denied it, sticking to their ski accident story.
Delègue’s friend Alain Gossuin, a fellow fashion model, attempted to set the record straight in a television interview:
“His own family wanted to silence the real reason for his death. I had discussed it in a TV show, believing that my intervention would put a spotlight on the magnitude (of the AIDS) scourge.”
Delègue’s family complained to the broadcasting company and Gossuin’s comments about AIDS were edited out.
HIV and AIDS diagnosis come with a stigma, causing some sufferers and their families to hide it or deny it. Regarding the family, homophobia often plays a part.
When my partner of 13 years was diagnosed with AIDS, one of the first things he insisted on was that none of our friends could know. And when he died, he did not want me to tell his family. I told him I would honor his wishes while he was alive, but after his death, I would need to tell the truth. He died 7 months later. I won’t lie, keeping it a secret was an incredible burden.
On the day he passed away, I wrote a letter to all of our friends and to my partner’s brothers explaining what had happened and why I waited to tell them.
It was such a shame because so many of his friend expressed how much they would have wanted to spend him with him in his moment of need.
The Truth should alway take presidency.
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Axel Hermann for Cesare Paciotti Fall/Wint 2006
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Ear cuff, mask, and ring by Taro Hanabusa, the Tokyo-based dentist and designer of custom jewelry label Fangophilia.
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