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Charlie Sheen admits he didn't tell some of his partners he had HIV over blackmail fears

'The only couple of times I didn't tell somebody was because the last 25 times I'd told somebody they used it against me,' says Sheen

Maya Oppenheim
Monday 20 June 2016 15:28 BST
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Sheen says since he publicly revealed his HIV diagnosis he had only slept with one woman
Sheen says since he publicly revealed his HIV diagnosis he had only slept with one woman (Getty Images)

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Charlie Sheen has said he didn’t tell some of his past sexual partners he had HIV because he was worried they would blackmail him.

Despite admitting he had not been honest with all of his sexual partners, the 50-year-old former Two And A Half Men actor insisted he had not infected any sexual partners with HIV since his diagnosis roughly four years ago.

Sheen publicly disclosed he was HIV positive on the Today Show in November. At the time, he said he had disclosed his status to all his previous sexual partners.

Discussing his sexual history in an interview with Mail Online columnist Piers Morgan at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Monday night, Sheen explained he hadn’t always been upfront about his sexually transmitted disease.

“The only couple of times I didn't tell somebody was because the last 25 times I'd told somebody, they used it against me, and they used my medical condition for their own folly and financial gain,” Sheen said.

“And the amount of despicable charlatans that I thought were allies, that then turned against me, they were coming out of the woodwork, it was crazy.”

When asked whether that ever excused having unprotected sex when you know you’re HIV positive, Sheen replied: “No but I never did.”

“On all five of my children, and my granddaughter, I never did. Because I wouldn't do that to somebody. I would not. How could I explain it later?” he continued.

“And here's the great news: no one has been infected by me. No one. They claim you know the sorrow and the pity or whatever, but that's on them, and again I know the truth.”

Sheen said he had only had sex once in the past seven months.

“There's so much more time now to do more important things. I spend a lot of time with my children and my family, and I'm just - I'm sorry, I've had sex once in seven months. For the right reasons.”

Since publicly declaring he was HIV positive, Sheen’s previous partners, including former fiancee Brett Rossi and ex-girlfriend Bree Olson, have alleged that he did not tell them he had the STD.

In California, it is a felony for anyone who knows that they are infected with HIV/AIDS to not tell their sexual partner about their HIV status or engage in unprotected sexual activity with a partner. Those who violate this law and willfully expose partners to the virus can face up to eight years in prison.

A representative for Sheen did not immediately respond to request for comment.

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