Hollywood star Charlie Sheen has confirmed he is living with HIV in a US television interview.
Chalie Sheen on NBC's Today Show
Chalie Sheen, the former star of sitcom 'Two And A Half Men' appeared on NBC's Today show and declared: "I am here to admit that I am HIV positive" to a startled audience on the televsion show.
His confirmation brings to an end days of intense media speculation.
Sheen revealed to anchor Matt Lauer that he had paid "enough to take it into the millions" to keep people from going public about his illness.
"I have to put a stop to this onslaught this barrage of attacks and of sub truths," he said, adding he was diagnosed four years ago.
He said when he revealed his HIV status to friends "the truth became treason", leading to "blackmail and extortion and a circle of deceit".
"I trusted them, they were in my inner circle and thought they could be helpful. My trust turned to their treason," he said, adding a prostitute took a picture of his medication and threatened to sell it to newspapers.
"I think I release myself from this prison today," he said.
He admitted that his use of drink and drugs was a "bad decision" but said it was "impossible" that he would have passed HIV on to anyone else.
Speaking about the time prior to his diagnosis, he said: "It started with a series of cluster headaches and sweating - I was hospitalised I thought I had a brain tumour - after tests they said this was the situation. It's a hard three letters to absorb."
Sheen said his "personal disbelief and shame and anger" at the diagnosis "led to a descent into substance abuse and fathomless drinking".
But now he feels he has "the responsibility to better myself and help a lot of other people. With what we're doing today, others may come up and say thanks Charlie, thanks for kicking the door open".
Watch the below: