Sheen's Troubling confession

In the parallel universe that is the entertainment industry, yesterday was a bad day for a bad boy. The fast-living actor Charlie Sheen felt obliged to go on to national television in America to "admit" he was HIV+.

That's right: to admit. Like confess.

To whom? Us? Why? It's not a crime to have a virus, although there are reports of lawsuits amid accusations that the actor was irresponsible with partners post diagnosis. But that's none of our business.

It's alarming, don't you think? To use the word "admit". I don't recall Magic Johnson using it back in 1991 when he announced his HIV+ status. And that was nearly a quarter of a century ago at a time when there was still a great deal of public anxiety and fear about the speed at which it could develop into Aids and certain death. Things have moved on.

At least, they have in the medical profession. But not, it seems in Hollywood, where an actor with HIV has to go on television in a staged-managed confessional and share part of his private medical records with the world. And from what he said about being blackmailed, the TV route was his least worst option: "I release myself from this prison today."

He might have released himself from one metaphorical prison, but he's going straight into solitary confinement in another. How many other mainstream Hollywood actors can you think of with his condition? It appears to be a town that tolerates movies about HIV but isn't so keen on the reality. Frankly, I was astonished by Charlie Sheen's announcement, both by its content and the hysterical response.