Toni Braxton hid her lupus disease for 2 years

Toni Braxton, who was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease, in 2008, has been a vocal advocate for survivors of the disease. However, she was initially advised to completely conceal her diagnosis.

In a recent appearance on this system “ONA doctor” On the podcast, Braxton talked about how her management team on the time told her that hiding her autoimmune disease can be higher for her profession.

“People are afraid of sick celebrities. Nobody is insured and I could not get insurance,” she said.

Braxton stated that in this early period she worked hard to cover her condition.

“I was embarrassed. Especially as a performer. So I would have ignored it,” she said.

The “Unbreak My Heart” singer, who eventually went public with her condition during a 2010 interview with CBS, explained how her profession suffered.

“I didn’t get the job at first. Nobody wanted to put me on stage,” she said. She added that managers and promoters would wonder, “Well, suppose she fell on stage? And insurance? How will we do this?”

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Braxton’s rheumatologist, Dr. Daniel Jeffrey Wallace, who joined her for the speech, added: “I was president of the Lupus Foundation of America and our problem was that we had so many celebrities with lupus, but none of them wanted to come forward.”

Lupus, which occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs, is a condition that disproportionately affects women, in addition to Black women. For many systemic reasons, black women within the U.S. are 3 times more prone to develop the disease than white women.

In most cases, this condition will also be difficult to diagnose. The R&B singer visited six different doctors before receiving her diagnosis. She noted that she “felt like a hypochondriac” before she finally found out what was incorrect.

“It’s like I’m telling people, ‘I don’t feel well,’ and no one listens,” she explained. (*2*)

Braxton, a mother of two who advocates for Black Americans to prioritize their health, added: “(It’s) important for me to be a trailblazer and be an advocate and tell other people about it and tell my story, and I hope that you can help someone.”