Sheen comes clean: Charlie reveals he’s HIV-positive ‘to stop blackmailers’

Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen has revealed he is HIV positive during a live interview on American television. It was announced on Monday that the Two And A Half Men star would be appearing on NBC to make a “revealing personal announcement”. The star told host Matt Lauer that he was diagnosed four years ago when he was very ill and thought he in fact had a brain tumour. "I am here to admit I am HIV-positive and I have to put a stop to the onslaught and barrage of attacks and sub-truths that are threatening the health of so many others,“ he said.

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.

Charlie Sheen

Social media has been in meltdown over the identity of the Hollywood star living with HIV. Sheen said he had been forced to pay blackmailers "millions” since being diagnosed. Those people, he said, were once trusted friends. The 50-year-old, who has battled both drink and drugs addictions, said it is “impossible” for him to have transmitted the disease to anyone he has had sex with, although he could not say how he contracted the condition. He was once one of Hollywood’s highest paid TV stars, raking in millions of dollars for each episode of Two And A Half Men until falling out spectacularly with the show’s producers.

It’s a hard three letters to absorb. It’s a turning point in one’s life.

Charlie Sheen, on being diagnosed

Celebrity Charlie Sheen