WATCH: ‘Who’s the Boss?’ Star Reveals He is HIV Positive And Alyssa Milano Breaks Down Discussing it on “The Talk” (2 Clips)

People are still watching Oprah.  Why?  Because she is still the “Go-To” person when people can respectfully drop some jaw-dropping news to the masses.  She provides a no judgment zone and a box of tissues, they provide the drama, the tears and the ratings.

Danny Pintauro is known to most of us as Jonathan Bower from the 80’s show “Who’s the Boss?”  You know that show right?  When the guy from Brooklyn pulls up in the rich Connecticut neighborhood in a child molester van?  Yep, that one.  Danny Pintauro was the son of Judith Light’s character Angela Bower.  He was seven or eight at the time.

Pintauro was also the little boy in Cujo!

 PINTAURO COMING OUT

We all knew that Pintauro was gay when he was blackmailed into coming out by The National Enquirer back in 1997.  The newspaper said that they were going to run the story with ou without his input so Pintauro figured at least if he gave his side of the story it would be accurate.

1997 was the same year that Ellen came out.  It was a time before it was socially acceptable, or should I say as socially acceptable as it is today.  For most of us, a celebrity being gay is not a news story.  However back then it was definitely a different time.  It wasn’t considered inspirational, cool or hip and it was big news.  That is something that Danny himself wishes he could change.  During the entire media mayhem at that time, it was hard to be an inspiration and a role model for those who had not come out.  This is Pintauro’s chance to be that role model now.

 HIS ADMISSION TO OPRAH

Pintauro didn’t seek Oprah, Oprah found him.  She was doing random celebrity checks to line up guests for her show, “Where are They Now”.  “WATN” is one of just a handful of shows on her network that Oprah actually still makes an appearance on.  When she contacted Pintauro, he said that he wanted to tell her before about his HIV diagnosis but was not ready until now.  During the interview he explained,

I wanted to tell you this a long time ago, but I wasn’t ready — I’m ready now.  I had a breakdown backstage right before the interview started.  I was crying my eyes out.

Pintauro is hoping that his admission of being HIV positive would have a positive effect on those suffering in silence and raise awareness of HIV overall.  Socially we are so overwhelmed by gay rights and equality that we also forget that HIV is also something that still has high numbers within the Gay community.

HOW DID PINTAURO CONTRACT HIV?

Pintauro says that he believes he contracted HIV back in 2003 when he was experimenting with crystal meth and having sex.  In case you were wondering, this can happen regardless of your sexual orientation.  This wasn’t a gay thing, it was a drug addiction sexually irresponsible thing.  Pintauro describes his behavior and thoughts at the time,

There was more that I wanted to explore sexually.  Crystal meth takes away your inhibitions. You have no limits. And if you want to explore that adventurous side, taking the drug is going to put you there.

This lead to what he described as a drug-fueled sexual encounter where Pintauro thought he was being safe but obviously wasn’t.  He claims to know exactly when and with whom the encounter occurred although he said that he doesn’t remember the man’s name.  He said that he used to get bi-annually HIV tests and that’s how he discovered he had the disease.

Pintauro hopes that this admission and the related buzz it has created on social media will bring an awareness to the drug and it’s risks,

I’m not looking to make news and I don’t consider myself a hero.  If I can stop even one person from using then, yeah, maybe then I’ll be a little bit of a hero

 SO WHERE IS PINTAURO REALLY AT NOW?

In 2014 Pintauro married his current husband Wil Tabares.  He told Wil on their first date that he was HIV positive and Tabares continued the relationship.  Once the two fell in love Wil told Pintauro that he wasn’t afraid of the disease.  Pintauro told Oprah,

When we first got together, he said, ‘I love you and I love you for who you are and I’m not afraid of it

In 2014 the couple moved to California so they could legally marry.   Pintuarro now manages a PF Chang’s restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada.

SAMANTHA MACELLI WANTS US TO KNOW SOMETHING

His co-star and one of our favorite MILF’s (Mom’s I Like in Films) Alyssa Milano had some encouraging words for her co-star.  “Who’s the Boss?” ran from 1984 to 1992.  These two literally grew up together so they were just as close in real life as they were portrayed on the show.  Milano has always been a class act and she had some very kind words to say to and about her good friend.

Now how about that theme song…..why not? Hit it!! Tony Danza is still the man!!