Jamie Lee Curtis explains reason behind bold fashion statement

Jamie Lee Curtis has been opening up about the bold strategy behind one of her most memorable advocacy moments.

The Oscar-winning actress recently posted a throwback photo on Instagram, showing herself in a revealing red bra-style halter top.

Sharing the image in honor of World AIDS Day, Curtis, 67, wrote, “To my friends, Rick and George and all their friends and families and all of yours and all who we lost, all over the world. We will continue the fight.”

Speaking to Us Weekly at the Cinema Society screening of her film Ella McCay, Curtis reflected on the emotional story behind that look, and why she chose to make such a statement.

“I had just lost my best friend, Rick Frank, that year. The year before, his husband died, and then Rick died, and I went to the AIDS Walk for the first time and wore that red ribbon sash,” she shared. 

“I knew they wanted me to speak, and I wore a jacket over it, and when I got up to the microphone, I took my jacket off because I’m a very good marketing person.”

She added, “I knew that if I walked up to that microphone and dropped that jacket wearing that red thing, it would make people pay attention, which is the point.”

A decades-long advocate for AIDS awareness and research, Curtis asserted before conclusion that she was proud to use her platform to amplify a cause that still deeply matters to her.