LOS ANGELES: A celebrity long criticized for her controversial views of vaccines and autism is now being pilloried — for her controversial views on Charlie Sheen and HIV.

After Sheen made the dramatic disclosure that he is HIV-positive earlier this week on the “Today” show, some said Sheen, arguably among the most famous people with HIV, should be commended for his disclosure, while others wondered whether the actor’s numerous dalliances with porn stars might lead to an epidemic of the virus in that community.

Jenny McCarthy had a different take. On her Sirius XM show, she recalled her time on Sheen’s show “Two and a Half Men” — and wondered why Sheen didn’t have to disclose his HIV status to his co-stars.

“Before we do a job, we have to sign a piece of paper that says, ‘Do you have cold sores?’” McCarthy said. .”.. I’m like, ‘Wait a second. If I have to be upfront about herpes, how could you not be upfront about HIV?’ I look back and I’m like, that would have been valuable information. I mean, look how many people have played his love interest on the show.”

This soliloquy was not well-received.

“Noted medical scientist and entertainment personality Jenny McCarthy has, naturally, weighed in on Charlie Sheen’s recent disclosure of his H.I.V.-positive status, because she did a few episodes of ‘Two and a Half Men’ with Sheen, playing a love interest, so this story is really all about her,” Vanity Fair wrote. “McCarthy, who waged a years-long war against vaccinations, is known for her, let’s say, colorful interpretation of scientific and medical facts, so this gobbledygook about kissing Charlie Sheen would certainly seem in keeping with her brand.”







Sheen’s people, meanwhile, said McCarthy’s views were irrelevant.