Charlie Sheen went public Tuesday morning, confirming on the "Today" show that he's HIV positive. Inconveniently, he spent quite a bit of time doing that, and he did it awfully early in the morning. Of course, it's there on video for you to see for yourself, but for those who'd rather cut to the chase, here's what you need to know.

Back in 1982 when developing AIDS was viewed as a death sentence, I attempted suicide when I discovered I was HIV positive.

After hearing so many terrifying stories of long, agonising deaths, I just couldn’t face it.

But society’s ignorant response was almost as frightening.

Guns, booze, porn stars . . . Charlie Sheen was Hollywood’s wildest star. It has cost him dearly, says Damian Whitworth

Even in Hollywood, where excess is so often the kinky, swivel-eyed bedfellow of success, Charlie Sheen has sometimes appeared wilder than the rest.

Drink, drugs, prostitutes, gambling, guns, conspiracy theories, mad rants — Sheen has indulged in them all during four decades of fast living.

Many of his private antics have become public and now — after weeks of whisperings about him — he has revealed the secret he has harboured for four years.

Syndrome d'immunodéficience acquise‬, ‪Virus‬, ‪Alcoolisme‬, ‪Virus de l'immunodéficience humaine