I forgot his name on the movie, but his real name is Roger Smith, the light skinned stylist that got that phone call and wouldn't say anything when asked what was wrong. He then starts arguing with the other gay guy stylist played by Keith Washington.
There has been much discussion about that topic too, and most people's opinions are that that he did NOT have AIDS.
AIDS results are not given over the phone, plus he seemed entirely too cheerful the next couple times we see him. News like that isn't something a person would 'get over' that fast, one would think anyhow.
I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus. Didn't he discover America? Penfold, shush.
That's what I thought too. Even though the first time I saw this movie I too assumed they must've told him he was HIV positive. Maybe they told him the rabbit done died. That he got a girl pregnant because men would have the same reaction hearing that, especially a gay man.
That isn't necessarily true. HIV tests results can be told over the phone. In terms of the acting cheery the next time we see him many people diagnosed with a HIV or another serious illness go through phases of emotions. It doesn't mean he was over it, it just means he was having a good day.
It seems like that is a good guess as to why he's so stunned and distressed to the point of being speechless...but, realistically, yeah...in real life they don't give AIDS results over the phone.