Veteran actress and comedian Jenifer Lewis has candidly reflected on her past struggles with sex addiction, revealing that years of casual relationships came to an end when the HIV/AIDS epidemic forced her to confront the risks of her lifestyle.
Speaking during a conversation with Keke Palmer, Lewis admitted that sex once became an addiction rather than an expression of intimacy.
“I slept with 63 men. Now that was fabulous,” Lewis said. “I wish I had known my body was a temple. I used to just find a gorgeous man and sleep with them.”
Lewis explained that, at the time, she viewed men primarily as sexual partners and believed that her behaviour represented freedom. However, as she grew older, she came to realize that her relationship with sex had become unhealthy.
“Sex was the drug,” she said, adding that she eventually recognized she had developed a sex addiction.
According to Lewis, everything changed when the HIV/AIDS epidemic began devastating communities across the United States. Witnessing the growing number of illnesses and deaths made her rethink the choices she had been making.
“It wasn’t until life got real and the AIDS epidemic hit where I went, ‘Wait a minute,’” she recalled.
Lewis said the crisis brought an end to the carefree attitude she once had toward casual sex and prompted a deeper understanding of herself and her wellbeing.
The actress discusses this period of her life in her memoir, Walking in My Joy: In the No Judgment Zone, where she writes openly about her mental health journey, relationships, personal growth, and decades-long career in entertainment.
Lewis has said she ultimately found healing through comedy and hopes that by sharing her experiences honestly, others can learn from her story and recognize the importance of self-worth, personal growth, and making healthier life choices.
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