Last week, several media outlets posted a blind item about a famous Hollywood actor who is said to be infected with HIV. This week, reports claim that Charlie Sheen is that actor and according to a People magazine source, the "Two and a Half Men" star is expected to go on the "Today" show on Nov. 17 to talk to Matt Lauer about being HIV-positive.
Top Hollywood publicist and crisis manager Howard Bragman told People that he was approached by Sheen's people six months ago to deal with the crisis, but the actor did not deal with him directly. Bragman said that he was informed that the star "is getting treatment, and a lot of people in his life know about it."
"It's been going on for quite a while," explained Bragman. "He's not necessarily comfortable talking about it. It was very hard to get up the courage for him to talk about it."
Bragman said that he knew about Sheen's condition for quite some time so it was not a surprise for him, adding that he felt sorry for the actor's pain.
Of the actor's upcoming "Today" appearance, Bragman said that the interview could be a double-edged sword for Sheen.
"This interview could open up a lot of sympathy for him, but he has to be concerned about a fear of litigation from former sexual partners. You don't take that lightly," Bragman said.
Sheen has been married three times. He married his first wife, Donna Peele, in September 1995. They divorced a year later, and in 2002, Sheen married Denise Richards. The two are parents to two daughters and were together for three years before Richards filed for divorce in 2005. In 2008, the actor married Brooke Mueller, and they have twin boys together. In 2011, Sheen filed for divorce from her. Sheen also fathered a child, a daughter named Cassandra, with his former high school girlfriend.
Bragman said he hopes that Sheen's condition will be a "teachable moment for the world."
"This is a disease that can affect anyone," he said.
