Hulu Sets Sheryl Lee Ralph-Produced Doc ‘Living Proof’ for World AIDS Day
The powerful new documentary special “Living Proof” will premiere on Hulu on Dec. 1 in honor of World AIDS Day.
The documentary, which honors the lived experiences of Black women with HIV, is produced by Emmy-winning actress, producer and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph. In addition to streaming on Hulu, the special will air across the ABC Owned Television Stations’ digital and streaming platforms.
Set in Atlanta, one of the epicenters of the Southern HIV epidemic, the documentary centers on Freda Jones and Kennedi Lowman, co-founders of LOTUS (Loving Ourselves Thru Unity and Strength). “This grassroots nonprofit is shifting the paradigm for how Black women experience, talk about, and live with HIV,” a synopsis of the project explains. Described as a story of “joy, sisterhood and self-determination,” “Living Proof” spotlights the systemic challenges that Black women in the South face — including medical discrimination and stigma, as well as the consequences of cuts to public health funding — and how, through support groups, open discussions about PrEP and other community-driven health initiatives, they’re reclaiming their narratives and their health.
“’Living Proof’ is both a love letter and a call to action — a vibrant testament to the healing power of visibility, truth, and community,” said Ralph in a statement. “Freda and Kennedi’s stories remind us that Black women are not just surviving HIV — they are leading the way in reimagining what it means to live with strength, pride, and purpose.”
“Living Proof” is directed by Zeberiah Newman, who also executive produced the project alongside Ralph, Michiel Thomas and Norman Lee. Singer-songwriter B. Slade handled music supervision and the score. The film is a collaboration between The DIVA Foundation (the national nonprofit Ralph founded in 1990), ABC Owned Television Stations and Gilead Sciences.
“The history of HIV is in large part a story about the power of grassroots movements and community,” stated Deborah Telman, Gildead Sciences’ EVP, corporate affairs and general counsel. “We’re proud to support this important documentary that amplifies the voices of Black women, honors their persistence, resilience, power and leadership, and shines a light on the central role they play in the fight against HIV.”
The project builds on the success of the DIVA Foundation and Hulu’s partnership on the documentary “Unexpected,” which premiered on the streamer for World AIDS Day in 2023. That project, which focused on of Masonia Traylor and Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin, two mothers living with HIV, was nominated for two Daytime Emmys.
Watch the trailer for “Living Proof” below.
