Sharon Stone says backlash over Aids activism ‘destroyed’ her career: ‘I didn’t work for eight years’

Sharon Stone has said a backlash over her Aids charity work “destroyed” her career.

The 64-year-old first became involved with the Foundation for Aids Research, amfAR, in the Nineties.

In 1995, the Total Recall actress was asked to stand in for former chairwoman Dame Elizabeth Taylor at the organisation’s annual fundraising event in Cannes, France.

After taking on the role for the next three years, Stone claimed that her dedication to HIV/Aids research left her without work for eight years.

Speaking during a talk at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia on Friday, she explained: “I had pretty big shoes to fill with Elizabeth Taylor at amfAR … When I was approached in Cannes, I was like, ‘Can I take Elizabeth’s place?’”

The Basic Instinct star said that she discussed the role with her former publicist Cindy Berger, who warned her against it.

Stone added: “She said, ‘If you do this, it will destroy your career’. At the time you weren’t allowed to talk about Aids. She got hives on her neck.

“I said, ‘I know, but I am going to do it, you’re gonna kill me’. She replied, ‘And if you don’t, I am gonna kill you.’”

The Hollywood star also said she endured a lot of “hate” over her activism and revealed she even faced death threats because of it.

She went on: “I had no idea of the resistance, cruelty, hate and oppression that we would face.

“I stayed for 25 years until we had Aids remedies being advertised on TV like we have aspirin. It did destroy my career. I didn’t work for eight years.

“I was told if I said condom again, funding would be removed. I was threatened repeatedly, my life was threatened, and I decided I had to stick with it.”

Stone insisted that she has no regrets as she tearfully shared at the event: “Now 37 million are living with HIV/Aids, living functioning and healthy.”

After a six-year absence from the amfAR Cannes Gala, Stone returned to host it last July. Her last previous appearance was in 2014, when she helped the organisation raise £28.5 million in one night.

In 202, Stone also received the Legacy Award from the Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation.