The AIDS rumor of the week – of the year? – from the horse’s mouth.
Does Anthony Styles have AIDS and has he knowingly spread it to dozens of women in St. Louis?
Lord knows, that’s the club scene question of the week – of the year? – circulated via media, text messages, emails and big-time gum bumping. I got six text messages Friday morning, each telling me to forward it to others. But unlike most people, I didn’t. And I’m glad I didn’t, because I soon got a call from a local rapper who said Styles was down for an interview and would be glad to dispel the rumor.
Media outlets have been trying to get at Styles and see what’s up, but he gave the exclusive to the American. So here goes. Styles said he’s sitting back laughing because people don’t know what they’re talking about.
I admit, every time I asked someone to give proof, they said they heard it from someone else. Not one female has told me that he gave her HIV, though the American has been getting plenty of calls and emails, just like Fox 2, which gave us a holler looking for dope on Styles.
The Whirl couldn’t even substantiate anything. And everybody knows the Whirl’s primary focus is crime-fighting, which means they deal directly with the police department. Well, even they came up empty.
So where are people getting this slander from? Styles directed me to a true story about a guy named Sean Sykes, who someone may have mistaken as Styles. The man lives in Kansas City, Mo. and was recently sentenced on charges that he knowingly spread HIV, the virus that can develop into AIDS if left untreated (or even after treatment if diagnosed too late or the person lives with treatment long enough).
But Styles thinks someone is just hating on him because he’s had it going on in the pockets, on his arm and in his driveway for so many years. He admitted to his playa days, but said he doesn’t date everyone he’s seen with and – most importantly – that neither he nor his wife has any HIV to spread.
Styles also asked why people keep flirting with his wife if she is supposed to have AIDS. Good question.
The only thing hurting him, he said, is a bullet in his left shoulder. Other than that, he said he’s a healthy man and that his wife recently got a life insurance policy on him, which requires an HIV test.
He also said he isn’t gay and there’s nothing a man can do for him. (Not that AIDS is a “gay” disease – it’s rampant in the straight population, especially and increasingly among black folks.) As for the people spreading the rumor, he said he’s taking names and looking for an attorney.
He also said he got a call from a publisher and may be up for a book deal.
Another good thing, he said, is that a lot of people have gotten tested since the rumor hit the streets.
Anyway, there it is from the horse’s mouth. But still, I ask, if anyone thinks they have contracted HIV from this brother or if you have something definitive to say, hit me at bbeene@stlamerican.com.
