As widely publicized yesterday, Charlie Sheen went on the Today Show this morning to speak candidly about his HIV status, which he’s known now for four years.
There’s definitely some conflicts between Sheen’s official statements and the flying rumor mill, the biggest of which is whether or not he knowingly or unknowingly exposed others to the virus after he became infected. He says he’s not “entirely” certain when and how he became infected, but we know that it was after his divorce from Denise Richards in 2006. He was ultimately diagnosed in 2011 following a brutal headache that he thought might be a brain tumor.
He and his doctor, UCLA physician Dr. Robert Huizenga, have issued an open letter (see below) explaining Charlie’s condition and undetectable status, and Huizenga added that he “does not have AIDS,” to counter, for one, the 1980s-style National Enquirer headline that will hit newsstands tomorrow.
Among the big bullet points here:
- Sheen admits he’s paid multiple people off in his inner circle to keep quiet about this, to the tune of millions in “shakedowns,” and he says, “I think that I release myself from this prison today.”
- He says he’s only had unprotected sex with two people since his diagnosis, and that both were informed that he was HIV+ and undetectable.
- Ex-wife Brooke Mueller may or may not have known about Sheen’s status before their divorce in 2011.
- This still doesn’t explain why porn star Scottine Ross, who presumably knew about his status, broke off her engagement with Sheen last fall and got to keep her $100K diamond ring.
- It sounds like all the panic over possible exposure in the porn industry is for nought — Sheen has allegedly been undetectable since beginning aggressive treatment in 2011.
- Dr. Huizenga says that while Sheen is “absolutely healthy,” he has concerns now about depression and substance abuse.
- Sheen says that while he’s still drinking, “perhaps the freedom of today may lead to [stopping] that as well.”
- Sheen writes in the open letter, “My partying days are behind me. My philanthropic days are ahead of me.”
Update: Former girlfriend and adult performer Bree Olson claims Sheen did not warn her of his status and insisted “I’m clean, I’m clean.” She went on the Howard Stern Show today and said, “Just because I’m a former sex worker, I’m a human being, I have a family, I have a future. I’m doing so many positive things now and to think that you could have taken that away from me, that you knowingly were doing that. He doesn’t even value my life.” She immediately got tested after these rumors began flying, and she is HIV negative.
Below, some clips from the Today Show, and the open letter.
Does @CharlieSheen know how he contracted the virus? "Not entirely," he tells @MLauer
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 17, 2015
Does @CharlieSheen know how he contracted the virus? "Not entirely," he tells @MLauer
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 17, 2015
Has @CharlieSheen transmitted HIV to anyone since diagnosis? "Impossible"
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 17, 2015
An Open Letter from Charlie Sheen and Statement from his Physician:
Roughly four years ago, I suddenly found myself in the throws of a seismic and debilitating three-day cluster-migraine like headache. I was emergently hospitalized with what I believed to be a brain tumor or perhaps some unknown pathology. I was partially correct. Following a battery of endless tests, that included a hideous spinal tap, it was sadly and shockingly revealed to me that I was, in fact, positive for HIV.
The news was a ‘mule kick’ to my soul. Those impossible words I absorbed and then tried to convince myself, that I was stuck, suspended, or even stranded inside some kind of alternate reality or nightmare, were to the absolute contrary. I was awake. It was true… reality.
Under the brilliant and perfect care of Dr. Robert Huizenga as well as “the” leading infectious disease expert in the known universe, I began a rigorous and intensive treatment program. Not missing a beat, a med dose, or one shred of guidance, quickly my viral loads became undetectable. Like every other challenge in my life, again, I was victorious and kicking this disease’s ass. I wish my story had ended there. Unfortunately, for my family and myself, it had only just begun.
The personal disbelief, karmic confusion, shame and anger lead to a temporary yet abysmal decent into profound substance abuse and fathomless drinking. It was a suicide run. Problem was, I’d forgotten that I’m too tough for such a cowardly departure. Yet, despite this loathsome and horrific odyssey, I was vigilant with my anti-viral program.
My medical team could only shake their heads as each and every blood test returned levels revealing a state of remission. Even though I might have been trying to kill myself, one thing was radically evident; the disease was not.
In and around this perplexing and difficult time, I dazedly chose (or hired) the companionship of unsavory and insipid types. Regardless of their salt-less reputations, I always lead with condoms and honesty when it came to my condition. Sadly, my truth soon became their treason, as a deluge of blackmail and extortion took center stage in this circus of deceit.
To date, I have paid out countless millions to these desperate charlatans.
Locked in a vacuum of fear, I chose to allow their threats and skullduggery to vastly deplete future assets from my children, while my “secret” sat entombed in their hives of folly. (or so I thought)
News Flash: This ends today. I’m claiming back my freedom. The scales of justice will swiftly and righteously rebalance themselves.
In conclusion, I accept this condition not as a curse or scourge, but rather as an opportunity and a challenge. An opportunity to help others. A challenge to better myself.
Every day, of every month, of every year, countless individuals go to work, man their stations, fulfill their professional obligations with a host of disabilities. Diseases, imperfections, hurdles, detours. These maladies range from Lupus to Cancer, from paralysis to blindness, from Diabetes to Obesity. “Treated,” HIV is no different.
My partying days are behind me. My philanthropic days are ahead of me.
Earnest [sic] Hemingway once wrote:
“Courage is grace under pressure.”
I’ve served my time under pressure; I now embrace the courage, and the grace.
Love and Peace,
Charlie Sheen
Statement from Dr. Robert Huizenga
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCLA
Four years ago, Charlie Sheen came to see me with an upper viral infection followed by joint aches, swallowing complaints and then progressive severe headaches. During this infection, his HIV tests “seroconverted” (acutely changed) from negative to positive. He was immediately placed on four antiretroviral drugs and his HIV viral blood levels thankfully dropped to undetectable. He has tolerated his antiretroviral cocktail and by faithfully complying with the daily pills, his viral HIV load has remained consistently undetectable.
The urgent dilemma that both Charlie and I recognize is that there are 1.2 million other Americans currently living with this diagnosis. Shockingly, up to 20% of these individuals are unaware of their HIV status and sadly 60% are not adequately being treated. This leads to 50,000 new diagnosis and 18,000 HIV deaths yearly in this country.
I anticipate Charlie can save many more lives coming forward with his revelation then I could ever have aspired to as a doctor.
With Charlie remaining dedicated to his treatment regimen, I expect the HIV will only minimally – if at all – affect his predicted life expectancy.
Previously: CHARLIE SHEEN NAMED AS THE HIV+ HOLLYWOOD ACTOR, WILL GO ON ‘TODAY SHOW’ TUESDAY