Charlie Sheen is HIV-positive. The TV and film actor made the news officially public on Today this morning (November 17).

While the speculation circulated after the morning news program teased that Charlie was going to make a big announcement, he sat down with Matt Lauer to set the record straight.

“I have to put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks and sub-truths and very harmful and mercurial stories that threaten the health of so many others that couldn’t be farther from the truth,” he explained.

While he said that his ex-wives Denise Richards and Brooke Miller knew about his current health state, there are a number of women who more or less didn't know, especially during the time he was publicly claiming to sleeping with numerous ladies at a time. Matt asked him about how he will handle the chance that he could get arrested for having sex with someone who didn't know he has HIV, which is reportedly illegal in 35 states. Charlie reveals that he will deal with everything as it comes—even paying whatever debts and penalties he needs to take care of.

"My financial situation's not great, but it will be great again," he says optimistically. "I'm a survivor."

Charlie found out he was HIV-positive four years ago after suffering from headaches and "sweating the bed," which initially led him to believe he had a brain tumor.

However, after finding out that he has HIV, things started to change. “It’s a hard three letters to absorb,” he said. “It’s a turning point in one’s life.”

See the interview with The Today Show's Matt Lauer below.