The Oscars may be about the gold statues, but for Sheryl Lee Ralph, the real mission was happening on the red carpet of the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) Academy Awards viewing party. The “Abbott Elementary” star, who has been a tireless advocate in the fight against HIV/AIDS for over years, used her platform on Sunday night to issue an urgent warning that is now trending across social media.
While the glitz and glamour of Hollywood filled West Hollywood Park, Ralph spoke candidly about a troubling trend she is seeing. “I am here because, believe it or not, HIV and AIDS is not a dead issue in America right now,” Ralph told Variety. The actress, who serves as a producer on the documentary anthology “Unexpected,” which follows Black women living with HIV, noted that the crisis is far from over.
“It is spreading. We are still seeing upticks across the south, especially in women of color, and it is something that needs to be paid attention to,” she explained. Her comments quickly sparked a conversation on X (formerly Twitter), with fans praising her for “using her voice for those who are often overlooked.”
A Mission of Awareness
Ralph is particularly concerned about the lack of information regarding preventative care. During her red carpet appearance, she highlighted a major misconception about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
“So many women have no idea that PrEP is also for them. It is not just for men,” Ralph stated. “So there is so many reasons to be here at the Elton John event as we continue to raise awareness.”
The event, co-sponsored by Mistr, an organization providing no-cost PrEP, emphasized that eliminating HIV is possible if everyone has access to treatment. Mistr CEO Tristan Schukraft echoed Ralph’s sentiment, noting that the goal is simple: “Eliminating HIV.”
Hollywood’s Heavy Hitters Show Up
The viewing party was a verified who’s who of the entertainment world. Hosted by Elton John and David Furnish alongside Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, the night raised a staggering $. million for the foundation.
The guest list read like a dream award show lineup, featuring Dua Lipa, Keke Palmer, Melissa McCarthy, Zoe Saldana, and Patricia Arquette. Even Fran Drescher made a mad dash from the actual Academy Awards ceremony to ensure she didn’t miss the fundraiser.
“I sat through half the Oscars because I am in ‘Marty Supreme’ but I didn’t want to miss the Elton John AIDS Foundation Party,” Drescher shared. “I very heartily believe that if you have celebrity and you have social reach, if you don’t use it, you’re wasting it.”
High-Stakes Auction and “Oscar Auras”
The night wasn’t just about the speeches; it was about the support. A live auction saw some incredible items go under the hammer to reach that $. million total. Fans online were buzzing over some of the high-ticket items, including an Elton John Pinball Machine and a custom Jean Paul Gaultier pink corset worn by Dua Lipa.
“Matlock” star Jason Ritter also made an appearance, reminding everyone that while leaps and bounds have been made, “there are still people who are undiagnosed.” Ritter even shared a sweet moment talking about his co-star Kathy Bates, who was honored at the Oscars during a Rob Reiner tribute. While Bates didn’t bring her Oscar to the party, Ritter joked that her “internal Oscar aura” is always present on set.
As the nd edition of the viewing party came to a close, Elton John thanked the city of West Hollywood for helping “keep pushing to end AIDS.” With powerful voices like Sheryl Lee Ralph leading the charge, the conversation is clearly just beginning.
