Tuesday, actor Charlie Sheen announced on NBC’s “Today” show that he tested positive for HIV and that he’s known about this diagnosis for about four years. However, Sheen’s decision to publicize such an intimate issue may not have been completely optional.
He was allegedly under pressure after several of his friends spread the word that he was HIV positive. This news then spread to several of his former partners who threatened him with a lawsuit, saying that they did not know about his HIV status at that time that they were intimate with him. TMZ reported that Sheen settled several of these cases, exchanging money for the women’s confidentiality.
Sheen told Matt Lauer on “Today” that he needed to “put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks and of sub-truths.” He went on to tell Lauer that he would no longer pay people to keep this secret. “I release myself from this prison today,” he stated.
Sheen told Lauer that he disclosed his status with all of his sexual partners ahead of time and that there were only two women that he’d had unprotected sex with; these women were under the care of his doctor, according to Sheen. There are several women who state that Sheen did not disclose his status with them ahead of time — Sheen has allegedly paid these women in settlements.
Sheen is known for being a “bad boy” and a womanizer in some circles. When news broke about his HIV status, some remarked that they weren’t surprised, given his reputation.
While HIV and AIDS are certainly better understood by doctors now than they were in the 1980s, there is still a stigma and fear attached to them. HIV is that taboo, unspoken “thing” that we avoid discussing at all costs, but it’s not that simple. HIV is not that awkward elephant in the room that will disappear as long as you don’t talk about it. It’s not an urban legend that only happens to promiscuous people. And it didn’t die in the ‘90s.
An article published on EveryDayHealth.com states, “as many as 25 percent of the people with HIV do not yet know that they have it.”
While Sheen’s diagnosis of HIV is certainly tragic, it isn’t the only thing to be afraid of. Sure, some STDs are treatable, but not everyone will be so lucky, and it’s best not to risk it. The CDC reported that nearly half of the 20 million cases of STDs diagnosed every year can be attributed to young people between the ages of 15-24.
There are ways to protect yourself against STDs such as HIV. If you haven’t educated yourself on what those practices are, I highly suggest that you do. A part of being a mature adult includes taking care of your health. Get tested and practice the safest sex possible. No one is above what happened to Charlie Sheen.
