Burt Reynolds Suggests Charlie Sheen ‘Deserves’ HIV, Receives Backlash

Burt Reynolds has little sympathy for actor Charlie Sheen and his HIV diagnosis, suggesting that the openly promiscuous actor “deserves” it.

Burt Reynolds On Charlie Sheen

Reynolds recently appeared on ITV’s Loose Women, where he was asked for his thoughts on Sheen’s revelation about being HIV-positive, and the media storm that has been ongoing ever since. In his reply, Reynolds revealed that he is neither impressed with how Sheen has handled the situation, nor with the wild lifestyle he’s long lived.

“[Sheen has] handled it badly, I think. His father [West Wing actor Martin Sheen] is a very, very decent man and a dear friend of mine. I feel bad for him,” Reynolds said on the show. “But Charlie? I don’t feel bad for him. He’s getting what he deserves. If you’re going to misbehave, then they’re going to get you.”

“He deserves it. He misbehaved badly. Very badly,” Reynolds continued. “But you know when you’re that age, it’s tough. All the things are coming at you and it’s difficult.”

Among those who have spoken out against Reynolds’ comments is Shaun Griffin, the executive director of external affairs for the Terrence Higgins Trust, a British AIDS advocacy group. “The comments made today on Charlie Sheen’s HIV status are completely unnecessary,” Griffin told The Independent. “It is not right for anybody to be deemed ‘deserving’ of HIV, or any health condition. Nor is it correct for any of us to judge how a person becomes HIV positive, or speculate on its inevitability.”

Sheen is currently facing a number of lawsuits, including one filed by his former fiancée Brett Rossi. Rossi, whose legal name is Scottine Ross, is suing Sheen for assault, battery, false imprisonment and failure to disclose his HIV-positive status, and is seeking upwards of $1 million. Sheen has filed to dismiss the complaint.