Julia Fox! Jodie Turner-Smith! Grace Jones Hula Hooping! Inside the Inaugural AmfAR London Gala

“The truth is we’ve had amfAR supporters based in London asking us to bring an amfAR gala here for many years, but why now?” Kyle Clifford, the incoming amfAR CEO, told Vogue. “As amfAR begins to expand the focus of the research we’re funding, looking into solutions for other diseases, viruses, and conditions, in addition to HIV, now is the perfect time to expand our outreach as well. amfAR is seeking global solutions to global problems, and we want to make sure we’re speaking with people from all over the world. Collaboration is the key to success.”

Photo: Getty Images

In the UK, nearly one-in-three people diagnosed with HIV are between the ages of 25 and 34. Until we find a cure for HIV, Clifford relates, that means as many as 60 years of daily pills, more than 600 individual prescriptions filled, more than 20-thousand pills: “A cure for HIV is as urgent a need here as it is anywhere else.”

“We need the energy here that you get in Cannes and Venice again,” said Dame Tracey Emin. “We can match up!”

British pop star Jess Glynne opened the program singing her song “No Place I’d Rather Be” and her viral hit “Hold My Hand.” Richardson then took to the stage. “Statistics are filled with individuals,” Richardson said emphatically, who shared the emotional story of her own father’s battle with AIDS. “amfAR will bring us closer to a world without AIDS, and I smile as I say that, because with your help, it’s possible.”

Both Emin and Natasha Poonawalla, honored on the evening, have been long-term supporters of amfAR’s. British artist Emin was given the amfAR Award of Inspiration, while Poonawalla—a dedicated philanthropist and executive director at the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India—received amfAR’s Philanthropic Leadership Award.

“If I could eradicate anything in the world right now, it would be AIDS and HIV,” Emin said later on stage. “30 years ago, you weren’t diagnosed with HIV, you were handed a death sentence…and today, that isn’t the case anymore. Because of people like me, and people like you, in this room are here to fight, fight, fight.”

“We’re excited to recognize them for their years of support,” said Clifford. “Outside of their support for amfAR, both Natasha and Tracey have committed themselves to supporting the same people most impacted by the HIV epidemic: often marginalized communities, LGBTQ+ people, and young women.”

Dinner was served throughout as artists, medical researchers, and philanthropists chatted. For starters, guests got into poached scallops and grilled Scottish langoustine in a rich, herby sauce, while the main was an Angus fillet steak topped with baby leeks, artichoke, and a swirl of Swiss chard sauced in truffled beef jus. Dessert was skipped—the night ran away with us.

Auctioneer and art dealer Simon de Pury kicked the main event off with a series of opulent, money-can’t-buy items and experiences that included a meeting, lunch, and masterclass with Savile Row tailor Huntsman to create a bespoke suit, limited edition earrings by Glenn Spiro, a framed photograph from Grace Jones’s home of herself and her hula hoop, and a travel package to four international Rosewood hotels and resorts across four continents. (The last was given out to two winners, who matched their final bids).

Speaking of Jones, she made her highly anticipated appearance to close out the night and get everyone up dancing—wearing another beloved Philip Treacy fascinator. With her son on the drums (and beatboxing, when there were ever-so-slight technical difficulties), Jones gave a rip-roaring performance of iconic tunes including “La Vie en Rose,” “Pull Up To The Bumper,” and “Slave To The Rhythm.” Throughout, she engaged in naughty chat with the audience, got Julia Fox up for kisses, spanked another guest, and warned that her doctor had told her to stop her infamous hula hooping routine. Not tonight though. Barefoot and resplendent, it was a riotous final act to spur on those final donations.

Photo: Getty Images

“There are hundreds of researchers around the world with brilliant ideas for ways to end the HIV epidemic, so it’s not will that’s holding us back, unfortunately, it’s often just money,” said Clifford. This week, amfAR announced a new round of grants for five teams of researchers worth $2.4 million. “It’s the first time we’ve supported five grants in a single round and we’re pleased to be able to meet the moment and support more research than ever,” added Clifford.

Looking to the next few months as CEO, Clifford is excited by the research amfAR is helping to fund, having just fielded applications for their Mathilde Krim Fellowship, a program that supports early career HIV researchers. It’s named in honor of one of their founders, Dr. Mathilde Krim. “We can only keep making discoveries if we’ve always got a new generation of smart and motivated researchers; these are the folks who are going to finally cure HIV and amfAR is proud to support them early in their career,” said Clifford.

High art, high bids, higher heights of hula-hooping will propel just that—see below how amfAR’s inaugural London gala went down.