Tyler Perry’s plot twist in ‘Temptation’ puts down HIV/AIDS victims

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A mentality that’s stuck in the 90s

For one, Perry seem stuck in the mid-1990s, when HIV truly was a death sentence for those who were infected, before medical technology advanced to its current state.

The film also implies that an HIV diagnosis means there’s no longer a need to dress fashionably, appear attractive or embody any kind of joy. It sounds superficial on the surface, but look at the contrast — pre-HIV Judith was lively and passionate, with long flowing hair, a stylish wardrobe and an impish glint in her eye.

But after being diagnosed, Judith is transformed into a homely “church lady,” hair pulled back, glasses too large for her face, her entire body swallowed by a large, drab grey overcoat.

The implication: Women with HIV lose all desire (or any need) to look and feel like women.

HIV is not a ‘boogeyman disease’

In Perry’s world, Judith’s new life apparently only involves church, picking up medication, and advising other young married women not to make her mistakes. This flies in the face of the reality of many HIV patients who document their live full, exciting lives in support communities such as TheBody.com, and those who continue tireless work as awareness advocates.

Perry’s use of HIV as a moralistic plot device undercuts the decades-long effort remove the stigma of the virus. And seeing how African-Americans, by far, are disproportionately affected by HIV, it’s arguably irresponsible for Perry — a filmmaker known for his influence with African-Americans audiences — to continue to portray HIV as a life-ending “boogeyman disease” that only affects “bad” or deserving people. I can only imagine how insulting Perry’s treatment is to HIV awareness warriors like Marvelyn Brown, Rae Lewis-Thornton, and Hydeia Broadbent.

Countless other stars and luminaries in the black community — Alicia Keys, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Blair Underwood and Magic Johnson, among others — have worked for years to increase awareness and education and provide support for HIV patients.

They understand its impact on black Americans, and they’ve used their platforms to advance the conversation about the virus, not to stifle it. It’s high time for Tyler Perry to catch up.

Veronica Miller can be found on Twitter at @veronicamarche.