Eurovision star Conchita Wurst reveals HIV diagnosis

Eurovision star Conchita Wurst reveals HIV diagnosis.
Conchita Wurst Photo credit: Instagram.com

Conchita Wurst, one of the most familiar faces to come out of the Eurovision Song Contest in the last decade, has revealed they are HIV positive.

The 29-year-old won the competition for Austria in 2014 with the song 'Rise Like a Phoenix'.

Wurst is the drag personality of artist Tom Neuwirth, who claimed in a post on Instagram to be forced to make the announcement after an ex-boyfriend threatened to go public.

"I have been HIV positive for many years," Wurst said on Instagram.

"This is actually irrelevant to the public, but an ex-boyfriend has threatened to take this private information public and I will never give anyone the right to frighten me and influence my life because of it."

Many fans have posted support for the gay icon on the Instagram post.

"I'm well and I'm stronger, more motivated and more liberated than ever. Thank you for your support!"

Wurst promises not to stop performing because of the diagnosis and says a new album with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra will be released later this year.

Newshub.