‘Condoms and honesty, always’
NEW YORK: Charlie Sheen, the former star of the hit US television comedy Two And A Half Men, said yesterday that he had been diagnosed HIVpositive about four years ago, and more than $10 million (R143 million) had been extorted from him to suppress the information.
Sheen, 50, told NBC’s Today TV show that he was speaking out because he was being blackmailed, and to deny tabloid reports that he had Aids and was spreading it to others.
“I have to put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks and of subtruths 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.
“I am here to admit that I am in fact HIV-positive,” Sheen said, adding that he was “not entirely sure” how he contracted the virus.
“It started with what I thought was a series of crushing headaches. I thought I had a brain tumour. I thought it was over.”
Sheen’s doctor, Robert Huizenga, also appeared on the Today show and said the actor “does not have Aids”.
Sheen, who is three times divorced, played the womanising bachelor Charlie Harper on the top-rated comedy series Two And A Half Men for eight years before being fired in 2011 for bad behaviour that included cocaine-fuelled partying with porn stars and a conviction for assaulting his ex-wife.
At the time, he was the highest-paid actor on US television, with a reported salary of about $1.8 million per episode.
Asked whether he had transmitted HIV to anyone since his diagnosis, Sheen said yesterday: “Impossible.” He had told his ex-wives immediately after getting his diagnosis. He had “always led with condoms and honesty when it came to my condition”.
Sheen acknowledged that he had paid people “upwards of $10 million” in recent years for their silence about his condition, but said he would no longer do so. “I think I released myself from this prison today.”
After being fired from Two And A Half Men, Sheen set up home with a number of porn stars he called “goddesses” and boasted on YouTube of having “tiger blood” in his veins.
Sheen, the son of West Wing TV actor Martin Sheen, said he did not feel any stigma for being HIV-positive, a condition that affected more than 1.2 million people in the US.
“I have a responsibility now to better myself and help a lot of other people. Others may come forward and say, ‘Thanks, Charlie. Thanks for kicking the door open.’” – Reuters
Union blasts pilots
THE SA Transport and Allied Trade Union has blasted the Airline Pilots’ Association of South Africa for passing a motion of no confidence in SAA board chairwoman Dudu Myeni, saying the move was “a ploy by white pilots to perpetuate white supremacy” at the beleaguered national carrier.
Myeni had Satawu’s full support, and was correct in working to transform SAA, the union said. – ANA
Sailor rescued
A SAILOR was rescued after his Hobie Cat catamaran capsized off Hout Bay Beach yesterday, the NSRI reported.
The solo sailor attempted to right the craft, but witnesses raised the alarm as a precaution.
An NSRI craft was dispatched, and the catamaran was righted and towed to shore. – ANA
Strike suspended
THE strike by parliamentary staff had been suspended, the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and the legislature’s management confirmed yesterday.
Parliamentary staff had been striking over a dispute about how their annual bonus was to be calculated. – ANA
Shoot, police urged
A TOP Soweto policeman called on officers yesterday to defend themselves by shooting back when faced by armed criminals.
Major-General Papile Fred said this at the memorial service for flying squad Sergeant Sharon Ralinala, who was shot dead in Eldorado Park last week. – Mercury Correspondent
Democrats stand firm
WASHINGTON: The White House issued a veto threat yesterday for a resolution from the Republican-led US Senate that would nullify new regulations to cut carbon emissions from power plants.
The Senate sponsors of the motion have said the regulations would hurt jobs in coal-dependent regions. – Reuters