Charlie Sheen is worried about legal ramifications as a result of his disclosing his HIV-positive diagnosis, but told Today's Matt Lauer that many of the critical people in his life, including his ex-wives Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller, were aware of his condition.
Lauer asked the Two and a Half Men star if he's expecting an onslaught of lawsuits in the next coming of months, and Sheen confessed he's expecting exactly that. "I can only imagine based on what I've already experienced and what's come down the pike," he said, before adding, "I'm sure that's next."
But the Golden Globe winner is taking the high road. After confessing to having been blackmailed for up to $10 million, Sheen is ready to take control of the situation despite admitting that telling the truth has already cost him.
"Having divulged [my diagnosis] is the reason I'm in the mess that I'm in with all the shakedowns," he explained Tuesday morning. "Again, I can't sit here and worry about it. I can only sit here with you and tell my truth."
Fortunately he has had the support of both Richards and Mueller, but because he was diagnosed in 2011, the same time that he was married to Mueller, he had to call her and tell her to get checked. He admitted that he only just recently told his children, including his oldest daughter Cassandra. "It hit her hard but she recovered, but she's tough like her dad...She was a rock star about it."
Given how much money he has lost trying to keep people quiet, Sheen admitted that his financial situation is "not great," and said it's less money for his children. But he's looking forward to working again and making it back to the top.
"It'll be great again. I'm a survivor. I've been up I've been down I've been rich I've been poor," he explained. "It's another chapter in my life. It's not commerce driven. It's socially driven."
Sheen also said that he has been keeping up with the news recently and admitted that he has had a hard time reading some of the inaccurate headlines, which included claiming he was "intentionally" spreading the virus. But after Lauer read some supportive comments from social media, Sheen is hoping he can use it to help spread awareness.
"I'm gonna ride this wave of support, and if there was one guy on this planet to contract this that's going to deliver a cure, it's me," he said. "I mean, seriously."
To learn more about HIV/AIDS and to contribute in the fight against the diseases, visit amfAR.
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