Charlie Sheen: ‘I’m HIV Positive,’ Paid Many Who Threatened To Expose Me | TODAY

Summary

In this revealing interview, Charlie Sheen discloses his HIV-positive status, a secret he's kept for four years. He addresses the extortion attempts by those who threatened to expose his condition, acknowledging payments made to protect his family's future. Sheen vehemently denies transmitting the virus to anyone, emphasizing his commitment to honesty and safety with his partners. The interview delves into his past struggles with substance abuse, triggered by the life-altering diagnosis, and his current mission to break the stigma surrounding HIV.

Takeaways

• 🎬 Charlie Sheen is known for his award-winning work in television and movies.
• 📢 He openly admits to being HIV positive on the show to address rumors and stop false stories.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Charlie has been betrayed and extorted by people he trusted after revealing his HIV status.
• 💸 He has paid millions to keep his diagnosis private, money that could have gone to his children.
• 🤝 He has told every sexual partner about his status before engaging in sexual activities.
• 🚫 Charlie denies knowingly transmitting the virus to anyone and has been cautious post-diagnosis.
• 🏥 Two individuals with whom he had unprotected sex were under his doctor's care and informed of his status.
• 💉 He does not know how he contracted the virus and has not engaged in behaviors involving needles.
• 🌪️ The public meltdown and substance abuse followed his diagnosis, which he now views as a turning point.
• 🔓 By coming forward, Charlie hopes to release himself from the 'prison' of secrecy and help others.

Q & A

Why did Charlie Sheen decide to go public about his HIV status?

Charlie Sheen decided to go public about his HIV status to put a stop to the barrage of attacks and harmful stories that were threatening the health of many others.

How long has Charlie Sheen known about his HIV diagnosis?

Charlie Sheen has known about his HIV diagnosis for roughly four years.

What were the initial symptoms that led Charlie Sheen to seek medical help?

Charlie Sheen experienced a series of cluster headaches, insane migraines, and sweating the bed completely drenched for three nights in a row, which led him to be emergency hospitalized.

How did Charlie Sheen react when he first learned about his HIV diagnosis?

Charlie Sheen described the diagnosis as a hard three letters to absorb and a turning point in one's life.

Has Charlie Sheen been a victim of extortion related to his HIV status?

Yes, Charlie Sheen has been a victim of extortion, with people demanding money to stay silent about his HIV status.

How much money has Charlie Sheen paid to those who have extorted him?

Charlie Sheen has paid enough to bring it into the millions, which he mentioned is money taken from his children.

What was the nature of the extortion involving a prostitute and antiretroviral medication?

A prostitute took a photo of Charlie Sheen's antiretroviral medication after a sexual encounter and threatened to sell the image to tabloids.

Has Charlie Sheen ever transmitted the HIV virus to anyone since his diagnosis?

Charlie Sheen stated that it is impossible for him to have knowingly or unknowingly transmitted the HIV virus to anyone since his diagnosis.

How has Charlie Sheen's lifestyle been affected by his HIV diagnosis?

Charlie Sheen went through a period of profound substance abuse and heavy drinking due to the disbelief, confusion, shame, and anger following his diagnosis.

What steps does Charlie Sheen take to ensure he does not transmit HIV to his sexual partners?

Charlie Sheen has always used condoms and been honest about his condition with his sexual partners, and those he had unprotected sex with were under the care of his doctor and were warned ahead of time.

Does Charlie Sheen know how he contracted the HIV virus?

Charlie Sheen is not entirely sure how he contracted the HIV virus.