Jamie Lee Curtis Shares the Meaning Behind Her Bold Red Top in a Throwback Photo
Jamie Lee Curtis Honors World AIDS Day with Reflective Throwback Post
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis sparked conversations this week by sharing a poignant throwback photo on Instagram, remembering those affected by AIDS as part of World AIDS Day on December 1. The image, taken during the AIDS Project Los Angeles Walk at Paramount Studios in 1995, features Curtis in a red bra top adorned with halter straps, symbolizing the red AIDS ribbon.
In her post, Curtis, 67, dedicated the image to her late friends Rick and George, stating, “To my friends, Rick and George and all their friends and families and all of yours and all who we lost, all over the world. We will continue the fight.”
Fans quickly recognized the significance of Curtis’s outfit, with comments highlighting its tribute to the AIDS ribbon. Actor Cheyenne Jackson commented, “I JUST now realized that was an AIDS ribbon. Wow,” while another user expressed gratitude for Curtis’s memorialization of a personal loss.
The actress elaborated on her motivations during an exclusive interview at the Cinema Society screening of her new film Ella McCay, held on December 2. “I had just lost my best friend, Rick Frank, that year. The year before, his husband died, and then Rick died,” she shared. “I wore that red ribbon sash for the first time at the AIDS Walk. I knew they wanted me to speak, and I wore a jacket over it. When I got up to the microphone, I took my jacket off because I’m a very good marketing person.”
Curtis emphasized her intention to draw attention to the cause, explaining, “I knew that if I walked up to that microphone and dropped that jacket wearing that red thing, it would make people pay attention, which is the point.”
A long-time advocate for AIDS organizations, Curtis expressed pride in highlighting such a crucial issue. She noted, “We were there as a collective to try to do something together, which is what the AIDS Walk does—raises money, raises awareness, and fosters research for a cure.”
Richard “Rick” Frank, who worked alongside Curtis on the ABC sitcom Anything But Love, succumbed to complications from AIDS in 1995, a year after his husband George Lowe passed away from the same illness.
Curtis also provided advice for aspiring advocates, urging them to “get out of your own way” to effect change. “Just move that ego or move that obstacle you think is holding you back. Move it out of the way and just get f***ing going,” she advised, adding that there is no time to waste for those driven by a passion for advocacy.
The actress’s upcoming film, Ella McCay, addresses themes of advocacy and service through its title character, played by Emma Mackey. Curtis portrays Ella’s supportive aunt, a figure who helps navigate complex family dynamics while championing critical issues.
Curtis concluded her conversation by stressing the film’s relevance in today’s landscape, stating, “We need a movie that lifts us, that reminds us that public service is about helping people overcome their obstacles.” Ella McCay is set to premiere in theaters on December 12.
