Photos: This 'Big Brother' winner was told he was HIV positive in the house's Diary Room hence had to quit the show

Fans of Big Brother will remember villainous Dick Donato for the underhanded tactics that led him to victory in the show's eighth season, but the reality star recently unveiled a big secret he's been keeping for years: he's HIV positive.

In an interview with People magazine, the man fans have come to know as "Evel Dick" reveals  he found out he was infected during the taping of Big Brother's 13th season, where he was one of several returning houseguests back in 2011.

Dick tells People he learned the news when producers called him into the house's Diary Room. "They told me that something was wrong with my blood test," he says. "They had done two HIV tests. One had come back positive and the other had come back negative."

After further testing, doctors determined he was indeed HIV positive. "When they told me, I just went numb," he says, explaining this was the reason for his unexplained abrupt departure from the show. "They had a car take me from CBS to my mother's house," he tells People. "She was the first person I told."

While still unsure how he contracted the disease, the 51-year-old had been hiding his diagnosis until he recently had an epiphany. "Look, I get that I'm a reality-show villain," he says. "But for better or for worse, I have a platform. And I decided that it was time to just publicly say what I'm dealing with. On one hand, I'm doing this for myself: I don't want to hide anymore. On the other hand, I hope it will remind viewers to get tested, practice safe sex, all those things we know in the back of our minds but maybe don't do."

Dick and his "on-again, off-again" girlfriend Stephanie Rogness-Fischer are currently appearing on the VH1 reality show Couples Therapy, and in an upcoming episode he reveals his secret to the rest of the couples on the show, including Bachelor paid Juan-Pablo Galvais and Nikki Ferrell.

"After I told everyone on Couples Therapy, I had two production people pull me aside and say that they had gotten tested," he tells People. "I feel like I can do some good."

1 in 300 people have HIV. I am one of the many, one of the few that refuse to live with the stigma attached. It's not brave, it's just me
— EvelDick (@EvelDick) October 1, 2014

40% of people with HIV have no clue they have it. Get tested, get treatment
— EvelDick (@EvelDick) October 2, 2014

Thank you all for the overwhelming support & love. It means so much to me, I am truly touched. This has been a long day and I need sleep.
— EvelDick (@EvelDick) October 2, 2014