Hollywood
has gone into panic after news broke of an A-list star being diagnosed with
HIV.
British
tabloid The Sun, while keeping the name of the star anonymous, has
reported that the actor was aware of carrying the disease for a number of years
but concealed the news while going on a careless 'sexcapade'.
The
report however gave some clue of the star's exes: an award- winning actress, a
stunning movie star, a glamour model and a TV show favorite.
A
‘celebrity with a chequered history’ and a celebrated media personality are
also said to fear they are victims.
The
actor is preparing for a legal battle now that news of his condition has become
“common knowledge”. According to the report, his lawyers are “preparing for a
raft of potential legal claims from previous lovers”.
“The
reality is that if he’s knowingly put women at risk then that’s disgusting and
it’s only a matter of time before that becomes public,” claims the report
“He’s
also concerned a lot of exes and previous one-night stands could look to
sue,” The Sun quoted a ‘US showbiz insider’ as saying.
His
friends have urged him to open up and face the odds, but the actor has refused
to come out in the open, fearing his career and life may face severe
consequences.
A
report on entertainment website Radar Online reported a
similar story, including lurid details about the star’s personal life.
“His
worst fear is that he will be remembered not as a great actor but as someone
who contracted the disease,” Radar quoted a source as saying.
It
is claimed that the Hollywood A-lister has been paying a former lover $20,000 –
about £13,000 – a month to suppress secret photos that reveal his condition.
A
woman who is friendly with some of the actor’s girlfriends, said: ‘One girl had
agreed to go on dates with the star and to sleep with him. She wasn’t a
prostitute, just someone who was happy to meet him and be his girlfriend.
‘After
a few dates and after sleeping together, she found the HIV medicine in a
bathroom cabinet. Obviously she was shocked and angry. She had no idea he has
HIV.’
The
girlfriend photographed the medicine with her mobile phone and was tested for
HIV. She was not infected, but threatened to publicize the photos. He has
allegedly been paying $20,000 a month since then to ‘shut her up... she has
been paid a lot of money’.
Some
newspapers have speculated that it’s Charlie Sheen.
Twitter
went into a frenzy upon hearing the news, largely pointing fingers at the
former Two and a Half Men star.
Anyone
who has unprotected sex is at risk of contracting the HIV virus, which weakens
the immune system and can develop into deadly Aids.
It
is spread through the bodily fluids of infected people, through breastfeeding
and sharing needles.
Many
sufferers do not know they have it and are symptom-free.
An
estimated 100,000 people live with HIV or Aids in the UK, nearly a quarter undiagnosed.
Since
the 1980s medical advances have transformed almost every aspect of HIV.
Sadly,
attitudes towards the condition haven’t kept pace and stigma is still a big
problem.
People
with HIV can lead full, happy lives well into old age. For many the biggest
challenge is dealing with what other people think.”
The
story has generated a lot of media buzz and there are high expectation that the
Star will finally reveal his identity.