Charlie Sheen revealed last night that the rumours circulating about him are true and that he is in fact HIV-positive. “It’s a hard three letters to absorb,” he told the Today Show. “It’s a turning point in one’s life.” Sheen says he was diagnosed as HIV-positive roughly four years ago and has only now spoken publicly as he hopes to put an end to the rumours that have been widely circulating regarding his risky behaviours: ”I have to put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks and of sub-truths and very harmful and mercurial stories that are about me, threatening the health of so many others that couldn't be further from the truth.” Sheen says he has confided in a few people close to him but has paid out over $10 million in an attempt to keep his status a secret. "What people forget is that that's money they're taking from my children. “I trusted them and they were deep in my inner circle, and I thought they could be helpful. My trust turned to their treason." He says he is unsure how he contracted the virus and says it is “impossible” that he knowingly passed the virus on to sexual partners despite confirming he has had unprotected sex with two people since being diagnosed. Under California law it is an offense not to disclose HIV-positive status to sex partners. He says both partners knew of his status and were under the care of his doctor. Sheen also denies engaging in high-risk behaviours telling the Today Show: “You're talking about needles and that whole mess? No, definitely not.” Going public is also a chance to reduce the stigma of HIV says Sheen: "I have a responsibility now to better myself and to help a lot of other people and hopefully with what we're doing today others will come forward and say, 'Thanks, Charlie.” Social media support following his announcement has been encouraging for the actor who says: "I'm not going to be the poster man for this, but I will not shun away from responsibilities and opportunities that drive me to helping others.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 18th November 2015 - 9:43am