‘Educate yourself before commenting on things you don’t know about!’ Lord Alan Sugar is blasted for ‘spreading misinformation’ about HIV… including by a former Apprentice contestant
Lord Alan Sugar has come under fire after sharing a tweet about HIV regarding a new EastEnders storyline after one of the characters was diagnosed.
After sharing his thoughts on the new plot, the business mogul, 75, was accused of ‘spreading misinformation’ on HIV by his Twitter followers.
Among them was former Apprentice candidate from 2021 Amy Anzel, who blasted: ‘Urgh, seriously! Educate yourself before commenting on things you clearly know nothing about.’
Blasted: Lord Alan Sugar has come under fire after sharing a tweet about HIV regarding a new EastEnders storyline after one of the characters was diagnosed
The BBC soap storyline is following Zack Hudson [James Farrar] after his human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis.
Viewers will see Zack’s reaction to his diagnosis, treatment options as well as watching him come to terms with life following the news.
Airing his views on the show, Lord Sugar wrote: ‘So Zack might be HIV positive. If he is then the baby growing inside Tiffany could also be HIV,’ the businessman began.
Unimpressed: Among them was former Apprentice candidate from 2021 Amy Anzel, who blasted: ‘Urgh, seriously! Educate yourself before commenting on things you clearly know nothing about’
Fuming: After sharing his thoughts on the new plot, the business mogul, 75, was accused of ‘spreading misinformation’ on HIV by his Twitter followers (pictured Amy Anzel)
He added: ‘If Zack gets tested and he is positive, he will have to tell Tiffany, she will have to decide if to terminate the pregnancy.’
However some online users were displeased by the factually incorrect information, claiming that it wasn’t a fair representation of living with HIV in the present day.
One person noted: ‘Terminate? What on earth. It’s HIV and not a terminal life limiting disease. Get with the times.’
Another said: ‘Please fix this with correct up to date scientific facts tweeted to you by @THTorguk and consider meeting @iangreen too.
‘Your platform could be put to good use to help so many people realise how different things are now and I think you’ll be surprised by it all too.’
One person noted: ‘Terminate? What on earth. It’s HIV and not a terminal life limiting disease. Get with the times’
Another said: ‘Please fix this with correct up to date scientific facts tweeted to you by @THTorguk and consider meeting @iangreen too’
A third person commented: ‘The baby can be delivered with a reduced risk of getting HIV. The baby can be treated from birth to reduce chances of developing HIV’
Another person urged: ‘You should delete this incorrect information’
A different person, said: ‘This isn’t the way HIV transmits to the fetus ESP before child birth’
A third person commented: ‘The baby can be delivered with a reduced risk of getting HIV. The baby can be treated from birth to reduce chances of developing HIV.
‘Modern medicine can mean, the baby if HIV +ve, can receive medication and care. Stop stigmatizing HIV.’
Another person urged: ‘You should delete this incorrect information.’
A different person, said: ‘This isn’t the way HIV transmits to the fetus ESP before child birth.’
One other said: ‘Highlighting the inaccuracy of the TV star’s tweet, a follower reminded him: ‘Life with HIV is very very different now. Science is amazing.’
Onscreen: The BBC soap storyline is following Zack Hudson [James Farrar] after his human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis
‘Being on HIV treatment, with an undetectable viral load, lowers the chances of the baby being born with HIV to just 0.1%’, replied another, quoting numbers from the Terrance Higgins Trust.
Lord Sugar also incorrectly named the character as Tiffany, when it is actually Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) who is expecting Zack’s baby.
In an interview with Metro Dr Kate Nambiar, Medical Director of the Terrence Higgins Trust, broke down the misconceptions surrounding passing on HIV and pregnancy.
When questioned if Whitney’s baby will be okay, Dr Nambiar said: ‘All pregnant people in the UK are offered an HIV test to reduce the number of babies born with the virus. Thanks to this and the incredible treatment advances, vertical HIV transmission rarely happens in the UK now.’
She added: ‘People living with HIV do give birth to HIV negative children. If someone who is pregnant tests positive for HIV, they’ll be advised to start treatment straight away.
‘This is a crucial way to prevent the virus being transmitted to the baby during pregnancy or birth.’
Incorrect: Lord Sugar also incorrectly named the character as Tiffany, when it is actually Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) who is expecting Zack’s baby
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