News that Charlie sheen has been tested positive for HIV has left us all in a bit of shock.
Charlie was able to stay out of the spotlight for about a year but he is planning to share his battle with HIV on the Today Show today.
Charlie isn’t the only star to publicly declare their HIV status – which helps break the negative stigma.
Other celebs are:
- Magic Johnson
The NBA star tested positive for the virus in 1991 at the age of 32. Now 56, he is still going strong.
- Freddie Mercury
He denied rumours he had the virus for years to protect those close to him. The Queen frontman finally came admitted he had the virus at the age of 45 – 24 hours before he passed away.
- Arthur Ashe
The famed American tennis player was the first African American to win the singles title at Wimbledon. He contracted HIV from a blood transfusion he received during heart bypass surgery. He announced he was HIV-positive in April 1992 when he began working to educate others on HIV and AIDS, founding the Arthur Ashe foundation for the Defeat of AIDS.
- Eric “Eazy-E” Wright
The American rapper admitted his ‘bad behaviour’ resulted in his status – he lost his virginity at the age of 12 and fathered seven children with seven different women.
5. Gia Marie Carangi
The American supermodel featured on the cover of Vogue and Cosmopolitan and starred in campaigns for Armani, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent. She became addicted to heroin and her career declined. She developed HIV and died in 1986 at the age of 26. Her life was brought to the big screen in the movie Gia, starring Angelina Jolie.