The cynics in Hollywood (and beyond) had been saying that the actor was rushing to the show to scoop the National Enquirer, which reportedly is publishing an exposé on the subject tomorrow – a seedy cover story that is anticipated to tell a tale of million-dollar cover-ups and the sort of Sheenful drama we have come to expect from TV’s once-golden man.
Any further attempts at humor to tackle the topic of Sheen’s diagnosis will say more about our/my own judgment – of Sheen, and also of HIV and of quote-unquote lifestyles – than about anything else, so I will say nothing more than yes, I rolled my eyes when the news broke that this news was coming. Because this is Charlie fackin’ Sheen we’re talking here, and because, while we deserve better advocates of out positive-ness (hello, Danny Pintauro), Sheen is going to dominate the conversation for a while.
Unfortunately, the conversation will have that salacious sheen to it now, at least for a bit. Those million-dollar cover-ups were not so – they were attempts to extort him, Sheen told Matt Lauer (quite possibly the least qualified so-called journalist to handle the exclusive revelation).
What those transactions were, only Sheen knows. What I do know, however, is that a conversation about a public figure being HIV-positive in 2015 should not be marred the sort of bulls--- that he brings to the table because the facts will suffer. The HIV/AIDS conversation still has its own baggage.
We do not need Sheen going on national TV to play the indignant victim of blackmails or whatever.
The actor and his story are going to be picked apart by the media, which will want to reach out to every ex and share every sordid detail of his sex life/alleged druggy activities they can find on the front pages of the mags or as Breaking News that is not. Non-public figures will see this and become discouraged to have this conversation themselves, to seek support.
We do not need to go back to being silent because someone like Sheen was elephant-in-a-china-shop loud about his diagnosis.
Thousands, if not millions of other less privileged folks cannot afford that, OK.
Photo: People.com.
Update 1: Here are some useful facts about HIV and AIDS.
Update 2: Olympic diver Greg Louganis, for one, is happy that a conversation about HIV is being had.
Update 3: Magic Johnson, for one, is confident Sheen may live a long life, if he adheres to a healthier approach.
Update 4: Speaking of Danny Pintauro, he has commended Sheen for making the right call and coming out with his diagnosis and sharing it with the public.
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