Charlie Sheen finally admits to the Today Show and announces he is HIV positive

Charlie Sheen has confirmed he was diagnosed HIV positive four years ago in an emotional TV interview with Matt Lauer, at 7am local time in New York (noon in the UK). The Hollywood actor broke his silence on America’s Today programme this morning after a US magazine and website revealed the details. But his doctor Robert Huizenga for about five years said 'Sheen has HIV virus but his medication has suppressed it so much that “undetectable level of virus in his blood” Charlie does NOT have AIDS'. Charlie has had protected sex since being diagnosed.

 

Sheen said that he learned he had the virus 'roughly four years ago.' 

His doctor, Robert Huizenga, later said he had been working with Sheen for five or six years and that the virus is now 'undetectable' in his blood.

Sheen also said that he was 'not entirely' sure how he contracted the virus and that he felt a huge sense of relief after publicly revealing his status.

Charlie said:

'It started with what I thought was a series of crushing headaches,'

'I thought I had a brain tumor. I thought it was over.' 

'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, that threaten the health of so many others that couldn't be further from the truth,' said Sheen. 

'We're talking about shakedowns,' Sheen said of some of the people he had been forced to pay to keep quiet.

'I have paid those people. Not that many, but enough,' he said.

'I don’t want to guess wrong, but enough to bring into the millions. What people forget: that’s money they’re taking from my children; I’ve got five kids and a granddaughter. 

'For some reason I trusted them, they were deep in my inner circle. I thought they could be helpful and instead, my trust turned to their treason.'

When asked if he was still paying anyone for their silence, Sheen said; 'Not after today I'm not.'

He then said; 'I think I release myself from this prison today.' 

He also said it was 'impossible' that he had transmitted the virus to anyone else. 

'I always led with condoms and honesty when it came to my condition,' said Sheen. 

Sheen said he was prepared to face lawsuits after his admission, but repeated once again he had always been honest about his status once he learned he had contracted the virus.

He also said that he had told his oldest daughter Cassandra a few nights before the interview that he was HIV positive and that his ex-wives Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller had known for years. 

He did not say if he had told his four youngest children.

Moving forward Sheen said; '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.'

Huizenga said that Sheen does not have AIDS but that he is still concerned for the actor's health given his history of drug and alcohol abuse.

'I'm not going to be the poster man for this, but I will not shun away from responsibilities,' said Sheen.