Charlie Sheen Confirms He Is HIV Positive


After teasing a big personal announcement from Charlie Sheen, Matt Lauer of the Today show spoke with the actor, who confirmed what had already been reported — he is HIV-positive.

Sheen says he was diagnosed four years ago after experiencing some health problems. Sheen called HIV "a hard three letters to absorb. It's a turning point in one's life." He says he told some people close to him about it, including his ex-wives Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller, and admits he had to pay others to keep them from going to the press with the news. 

Sheen wouldn't say how many people he paid to keep quiet, but admits he's paid millions of dollars in hush money. He says one person actually went into his medicine cabinet and snapped a photo — which he threatened to share — of Sheen's medication. 

Sheen said he has not transmitted the disease to anyone else. He also denied knowing who he got it from, and insisted that he's informed everyone he's had sexual encounters with over the past several years. He also said the disease must have been sexually transmitted since he's never shared a needle. His doctor, who appeared with him on the Today show, said the actor has an "undetectable" level of the virus in his blood and is "absolutely healthy." 

A notorious drug and alcohol abuser, Sheen said he still drinks but no longer uses drugs.

He said he came forward now to put a stop to the blackmail and to "release myself from this prison." Although he does not intend to become a "poster man" for the disease, he "will not shy away from the opportunity to help others" and will do whatever he can to work towards finding a cure.