Charli XCX Headlines HIV Prevention Event, Carrying On Madonna's Legacy

Pop star Charli XCX took the stage in West Hollywood on October 10 to headline a celebration for National PrEP Day. The event was put on by MISTR, a health company that helps people get free or low-cost HIV prevention medicine. Charli performed for a large crowd and spoke with Newsweek about why the cause is close to her heart. She said the queer community has always supported her career, and she wants to give back however she can.

The celebration was held at The Abbey, a famous venue in West Hollywood. Many well-known guests showed up, including Chappell Roan, Khloé Kardashian, Demi Lovato, and others. The night felt more like a big cultural gathering than a typical celebrity event. Drag performers and musicians also joined in to help spread the message about sexual health.

National PrEP Day was created by MISTR to raise awareness about PrEP, a medicine that can lower the chance of getting HIV. MISTR founder Tristan Schukraft recently made a big promise at the Clinton Global Initiative. He pledged to provide one million free HIV tests and one million free hepatitis C tests by the end of 2027. His goal is to make it easier for people everywhere to get tested and stay protected.

Schukraft told Newsweek that about 100 people are diagnosed with HIV every single day in the United States. He said the science to prevent HIV already exists, but that many people still cannot easily access medicine or testing. The event was designed to change that by bringing the conversation into everyday culture. He wants getting on HIV prevention medicine to be simple and easy for everyone.

Charli XCX said she is not afraid to talk about HIV prevention. She told Newsweek that looking after your sexual health is a completely normal thing to want to do, but too many people still feel embarrassed about it. She hopes events like this one help take away that shame. She said the work MISTR is doing brings the conversation into cultural spaces where more people can hear it.

Many fans have compared Charli's role to that of pop legend Madonna. Long before it was popular to speak up about HIV and AIDS, Madonna used her fame to bring attention to the crisis and demand change. Charli recently shared the stage with Madonna at the MTV Video Music Awards, and many see a strong connection between the two artists. Charli called Madonna 'the blueprint for all of us.'

When it comes to her music, Charli said she does not write songs for any specific group of people. She said she blocks out outside opinions in the studio and just follows her own instincts. Her queer fans have given her the confidence to trust herself as an artist. She believes that staying true to who you are, both in life and in your creative work, is the most important thing anyone can do.