Kelly Osbourne's Cousin Clears Up HIV Mystery  2/28/07

TV presenter and singer Kelly Osbourne's cousin Terry Longden is the mystery family member who is HIV-positive.

The 43-year-old, who starred in British reality show The Salon, was standing in the wings when Kelly went on stage at a charity benefit last week (18FEB07) and told the audience she had a relative with the condition.

He says, "I told her to say whatever she wanted because it might help someone in a similar situation, but I didn't expect her to cry. I felt quite guilty.

She gave me a big hug when she came off."

Longden discovered he was ill after taking a test six years ago (01), and admits he was terrified of telling his family, which included Kelly, and her parents, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne.

He says, "I was very worried about telling the Osbournes, especially Ozzy. I was on tour with him in the '80s when everyone was talking about AIDS and Ozzy saw a lot of friends die. Sharon and I are very close and I was going to tell her straight away, but then she was diagnosed with colon cancer and I didn't want to add to her problems."

But when Terry managed to break the devastating news to his aunt and uncle, he couldn't have hoped for a better reaction: "I spoke to Sharon and she was fantastic. She totally understood and gave her support. Five minutes later Ozzy rang and he was great, which was a relief. Then Aimee (the Osbournes' eldest daughter) called. She was a bit worried, but very supportive.

"Then I had dinner with Jack and Kelly the other day to tell them face to face. They were amazing. I couldn't have a better family."