Martin Sheen Speaks Out About Son Charlie’s HIV Diagnosis Reveal

This week, Charlie Sheen spoke out this morning on the Today Show with Matt Lauer, following speculation about his health in recent weeks. In the interview, Sheen revealed that he was diagnosed as HIV positive about four years ago: “I am here to admit that I am in fact HIV positive and I have to put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks, of sub-truths ... stories that are threatening the health of so many others.”

"I'm here to admit that I am in fact HIV Positive." -@CharlieSheen https://t.co/OVqVMKUGET https://t.co/10Ca6WRqt4

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 17, 2015

The 50-year-old revealed his diagnosis amongst mounting media speculation, and now father Martin Sheen has spoken out about his son’s decision to address media. Speaking at an event in Florida, the 75-year old actor revealed that his son had struggled with confronting his illness publicly, labelling it ‘his own execution’: "He had been leading up to this sort of story for several months and we kept encouraging him to do it. But he kept backing away and back away because it was like going to his own execution, I guess. It was the most difficult thing he's ever done.” Adding that he was proud of his son, Martin Sheen continued: "We didn't know until he walked on the set that he was going to do it. I saw him Saturday night – my wife and I went to see him – to make sure he knew we were behind him and, if he wanted me to go, I would have cancelled this event. "But he said no, this was his and his alone.” Speaking about watching his son reveal the news, he said: "This morning, as I watched him alone, reveal his deepest, darkest secret, I couldn't believe the level of courage I was witnessing, and that it was my son.”