During an interview this morning on NBC’s “Today” show, Charlie Sheen addressed rumors that he was HIV-positive. Sheen has been the subject of rumors for the past week and admitted to “Today” show host Matt Lauer that he is, in fact, HIV-positive.
Sheen said that he’s been the subject of a barrage of personal attacks and untruths and that he had to come forward. Sheen stated that he learned of his HIV infection four years ago after suffering from night sweats and cluster headaches. He feared he had a brain tumor and underwent a battery of tests and was told after one exam that he was HIV-positive. Since his diagnosis, he told only a few people in his inner circle and suffered from cruel betrayals and extortion. Sheen told Lauer that he has paid millions over the past four years to keep his HIV status a secret. “It comes to a point that you are not just taking money from me, but also my kids,” said Sheen of the extortion.
For Sheen, the payoffs stopped this morning with his interview. He described one attempted extortion in which he hired a prostitute who used his bathroom. While she was in the bathroom, she took a picture of his anti-retroviral drugs for HIV and threatened to sell the photo.
Despite his diagnosis, Sheen admitted that he continued to use prostitutes and drugs and indulge in bouts of heavy drinking, mainly because of shame and depression over his condition. Sheen claims that he has always engaged in protected sex since his diagnosis, and that it was impossible that he has spread the virus.
