Charlie Sheen revealed his HIV status only on Nov. 18, Tuesday, but his illness was already the butt of the joke among Sony employees 18 months ago. The revelation comes from a March 2014 Sony email leaked by hackers who attacked Sony's database and made its data public in November 2014.
Recent reports stated that a few Sony execs were discussing Sheen's inability to turn up on the sets of FX series "Anger Management" when one of them joked that the actor will not be able to complete 100- episode deal since it is hard being a "drug addict" and "HIV positive" at the same time.
"I think I will win the 90/10 bet on the over under on this ... it's hard to be a drug addict and be HIV positive and do 40 eps a year," wrote the unidentified Sony exec apparently referring to the show's deal with producer Lionsgate that if the first 10 episodes of "Anger Management" scored well in the ratings, FX would order 90 additional ones, Washington Post reported.
The show reached 100 episodes before being cancelled in 2014. The leaked email was also provided with a link to an article about how crew members were threatening to quit after Sheen failed to turn up on the set. Sheen joined "Anger Management" after a fallout with "Two And A Half Men" creator Chuck Lorre in 2011.
After weeks of rumors, the 50-year-old actor declared in a live chat show that he is indeed HIV-positive. He also disclosed how he had paid millions to people who had threatened to expose his HIV status.
Despite the diagnosis four years ago, Sheen is said to be having active sexual life involving prostitutes, escorts and porn stars. The actor is being bombarded with offers from publishers asking him to write a memoir, Us Weekly has learned.