Advances in treatment and prevention are changing the story for people living with HIV. A panel of TV writers and health leaders explore the importance of modern, nuanced onscreen portrayals.
"Empire" writers and producers JaNeika and JaSheika James know what it takes to bring HIV to primetime — they wrote the storyline between Jamal Lyon and Kai Givens that became one of the FOX musical drama's most talked-about arcs. During "The Modern HIV Storyline: Innovations for TV Narratives," a webinar hosted by the Hollywood, Health & Society (HH&S), the James twins discussed what HIV storytelling looks like on screen today.
The conversation, held June 23, 2026, was moderated by HH&S Director Kate Folb, and other panelists included three leaders from ViiV Healthcare: Dr. Alftan Dyson, Head of Strategic Medical Partnerships; Randevyn Piérre, Head of U.S. External Affairs; and Bithiah Lafontant, Head of Enterprise Communications. (HH&S is a member of the Hollywood + HIV Collective, and ViiV is U.S. Business Action to End HIV's presenting sponsor.)
Panelists traced how HIV has moved from a fatal diagnosis to a manageable chronic condition, citing long-acting treatment and prevention options and the reality of U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable).
Panelists also named the barriers that remain: stigma, medical mistrust, uneven access, and a lingering silence around sexual health. As Piérre put it, "When HIV is no longer the greatest threat, it seems that silence is."
The James twins shared lessons from writing the HIV-related storyline between Jamal Lyon and Kai Givens in "Empire," where they aimed for stories rooted in acceptance and love rather than fear.
Panelists left writers and producers with a challenge: Retire the old HIV tropes and tell stories that reflect how people actually live with HIV today — working, parenting, dating, and building full lives.
See the full webinar at Hollywood, Health & Society's website.
U.S. Business Action to End HIV was founded in 2022 by the Health Action Alliance, with support from ViiV Healthcare, to mobilize the private sector to help end HIV in the U.S. We offer free tools, resources, and events to help employers educate workers, fight stigma, improve access to HIV prevention and treatment services, and build connections to the communities that need it most.
Join the Coalition today.
Sign up for our newsletter to keep updated on HAA’s latest initiatives, insights and recommendations, and be first to receive new resources and event invitations.
Sign up
.svg)
