Tom Ford: AIDS Killed Half of My Close College Friends by 1990

Designer opens up about the early days of the epidemic

By Marc Malkin Oct 30, 2014 9:09 PMTags
Tom Fordwww.startraksphoto.com

Tom Ford will not—and cannot—forget living through the early days of the AIDS epidemic.

"I moved to New York in 1979 just before my 18th birthday," the legendary designer remembered at last night's amfAR Inspiration Gala, where he was honored with the Award of Inspiration. "Of my close friends at NYU, more than half of them had died from AIDS by 1990.

"I remember the fear of the early 1980s," Ford continued. "I remember the feeling of having dinner with a friend and running into someone I hadn't seen and the light would rack across their face and my heart just sank—you knew. They looked fine but there was something. There was something in their eyes. There was something about the look on their faces that told you that the next time you saw them they wouldn't look as well."

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The fashion icon also recalled when he and his husband Richard Buckley started dating. "We would meet for dinner and then we would each go to a different hospital to visit our best friends who were dying of AIDS," Ford said.

They both got tested for HIV in 1988 at the same time Buckley was diagnosed with cancer. "I remember Richard calling me in tears with his results to tell me joyfully that he only had stage four cancer and not HIV," Ford said. "Who could have imagined that only having stage four cancer was something to celebrate?"

While Ford acknowledged the enormous progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, he also called for continued awareness and education.

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"Today's generation of young adults have never known the ravages of AIDS as some of us have and for that reason, in some cases, they have let down their guard," he said. "We cannot let down our guard."

Ford was presented with his award by Rihanna, who cooed, "Everyone looks good in Tom Ford."

Hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow and produced by Josh Wood Productions, the evening raised $3 million for amfAR and included surprise performances by Coldplay's Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland as well as Diana Ross. By night's end, Miley Cyrus donated $500,000 to the organization. During the live auction, she won a print by artist Ryan McGinley of a naked woman for $300,000. Later, the singer made a cash donation of $200,000, which was matched by Ford and Rihanna.