Hollywood star Charlie Sheen is HIV positive claims US magazine

Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen will reveal to the world that he is HIV positive on Tuesday, a US magazine has claimed. The New York-born hell raiser is said to be preparing to tell famous American TV journalist, Matt Lauer, about his life-threatening infection.

His interview is set to take place on NBC's 'Today' program to be aired tomorrow morning. NBC say he will make a "revealing personal announcement" to Matt Lauer, the highest profile interviewer on NBC, after previously quizzing Pippa Middleton and Caitlyn Jenner.

The Hollywood star has been married three times and has five children - daughters Cassandra, 21, Sam, 11, Lola, 10, and twin boys Bob and Max, 6. He was once engaged to Scottine Ross, an adult film star known as Brett Rossi, but the engagement was called off in October last year.

US tabloid, the National Enquirer, and its sister website RadarOnline, have claimed Sheen has been keeping the diagnosis secret for years. The magazine also stated that he "potentially" infected ex-wife actress, Brooke Mueller.

The website read today: "After an exhaustive 18-month investigation, the ENQUIRER reveals the sex-crazed 50-year-old actor, who has a long history of sleeping with porn stars, strippers and groupies of both sexes, is now desperate to cover up his medical crisis, and it's costing him millions. The website continues: "Charlie thought he was indestructible and took no precautions - even though he was indulging in high-risk sex practices."

The National Enquirer also claimed that at least four women have alleged the actor exposed them to the virus – although it does not say if they were infected. In a number of reports made last week the magazine said that they knew the identity of an infected actor and that they had spent millions concealing their HIV status - including one girl he paid £13,000 a month to.

Fans have already taken to social media anticipating the announcement expressing their sympathy. One, Bijoux from the handle ‏@Jane_Aloud said: "Charlie Sheen is HIV positive. Not surprising, but it's sad. Very." Whilst Piers Morgan said on Twitter: "Very sad news, I wish him well."

The Platoon-actor has boasted that he has slept with more than 5,000 women. One source allegedly told the magazine: "Charlie had sex with multiple partner since learning his HIV status without informing them of his potentially deadly HIV infection."

Hollywood publicist and crisis manager Howard Bragman told People magazine that Sheen "is getting treatment, and a lot of people in his life know about it.

"It's been going on for quite awhile. He's not necessarily comfortable talking about it. It was very hard to get up the courage for him to talk about it."

He added: "I've known about this a long time, it's not a surprise to me.

"I feel very sorry for his pain. And I hope it's used as a teachable moment for the world. This is a disease that can affect anyone."