The internet had been buzzing about an A-List actor who supposedly was HIV positive for aver a week. Online blogs and websites were daring us to “guess who” but within days there was a name attached to these rumors. confirming the rumor mill, actor Charlie Sheen took to the Today Show to sit down for an exclusive interview with Matt Lauer to reveal that he indeed was HIV positive and had been for at least the past 4 years.
Sheen’s revelation of his HIV status was just one bombshell he dropped on us during his interview. He went on to tell a story of being blackmailed which led to his very public announcement. According to the actor, he has paid at least 10 million dollars to people who have been demanding hush money to keep his status private. When asked if he would continue to pay these people he smiled and said “Not after today, I’m not.
Charlie insisted that he has shared his diagnosis with all of his sex partners since he was diagnosed 4 years ago. He further claims he only has had unprotected sex with 2 women since his diagnosis and each woman was under the care of his personal Dr. at the time, Dr. Robert Huizenga who appeared on the show with him. Charlie is quoted as saying “I have to put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks and sub-truths and very harmful and mercurial stories that are about me, that threaten the health of so many others. That couldn’t be further from the truth”
Charlie’s coming out may lead to legal woes. While the actor claims emphatically that he shared his status with all of his partners Pornstar Elizabeth Bentley has told TMZ that she had no idea that he was HIV positive during their romantic fling earlier this year. She does however make it clear that they always had protected sexual encounters. At least 6 women have already retained legal representation in Los Angelos according to news sources. The women are claiming that they’ve had sex both protected and unprotected with the actor recently, some as recent as last month.
It is against the law to not expose your HIV status to your partner in the state of California. The stakes are higher if someone knows they have HIV and have sex with the intent to transmit the deadly virus. It’s then considered a felony punishable by a maximum of 8 years in prison.
