Celebrity Jenny McCarthy has added to her past controversial views about vaccines and autism, is now facing public criticism for her contentious opinions about Charlie Sheen's human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis announcement earliest this week on the "Today" show. While many HIV/AIDS activists have praised him for sharing about his disease, others have criticized his past lifestyle that involved many short relationships with adult movie stars.
On her Sirius satellite radio show "Dirty Sexy Funny" McCarthy questioned why Sheen was not required to disclose his HIV-positive status with "Two and a Half Men" co-stars. She played his on-and-off girlfriend from 2007 to 2011.
McCarthy recalled that she was required to answer a question a on a piece of paper about whether she had a cold sore. Thus, she wondered why Sheen did not have to report his HIV status.
McCarthy then stated that HIV cannot be transmitted through kissing. That is technically wrong. While the HIV virus cannot be transmitted through saliva, it could happen via the blood of an open cut or sore.
She referred to the possible HIV transmission as a big issue. That is due to concern for her son Evan who was diagnosed with autism in 2007.
Following Evan's diagnosis, McCarthy tried to link vaccines to autism, according to The Washington Post. However, several scientific studies have disproved the theory that Donald Trump also supported in a recent Republican debate.
McCarthy said that she felt sorry for Sheen, but that he must take responsibility for his actions. She argued that many of his ex-lovers were worried about being HIV-positive.
McCarthy's comments received much online criticism. This was often due to the untrue link between vaccines and autism she had claimed, as well as her making medical claims without being a doctor, according to Vanity Fair.
Meanwhile, Sheen's manager Mark Burg noted that Sheen had been infected with the HIV virus a long time after he had left "Two and a Half Men" and worked with McCarthy. In fact, they happened during the same year.
McCarthy explained her comments through Twitter. She claimed a double standard in Hollywood exists, arguing that all actors and actresses must reveal hundreds of health issues before they are allowed to work on a film set.
Here is news about a possible Charlie Sheen memoir: