Actors, musicians, Hollywood stars and the public are voicing their support for Charlie Sheen after he confirmed he is HIV positive during a televised interview on a major US network.
The Two and a Half Men actor spoke candidly about his diagnosis on NBC’s Today show on Tuesday after he was allegedly blackmailed by a number of people who knew of his condition. Sheen was also outed by the National Enquirer, who were expected to publish an eight page “expose” on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Magic Johnson, who broke boundaries by announcing he was HIV-positive during a press conference in 1991, sent his best wishes to the 50-year-old. He also called for Sheen to join him in campaigning for better education of the virus.
Lady Gaga commended his decision to speak out as an “opportunity for people all over the world to learn about modern HIV prevention, treatments, and emotional intelligence as it relates to the stigma of the virus”.
The former Mirror editor Piers Morgan said he was proud to be friends with Sheen, while the actress Laverne Cox shared an article destigmatising HIV.
Sheen told Matt Lauer he no longer felt stigmatised after declaring his status. In an open letter, he vowed to reclaim his freedom after months of allegedly being extorted by people he believed to be his friends.
He wrote: “Locked in a vacuum of fear, I chose to allow their threats and skulduggery 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 re-balance themselves.”
