Burt Reynolds: Charlie Sheen ‘Deserves’ HIV As He ‘Misbehaved Very Badly’

Actor Burt Reynolds has caused anger after claiming in a UK television appearance that Charlie Sheen “deserves” to have HIV, reports The Sun.

The 79-year-old star of Smokey and the Bandit and Boogie Nights made the vile comment while recording an interview on the British talk show Loose Women to promote his new autobiography.

Controversial ... Burt Reynolds has declared Charlie Sheen ‘deserved’ his HIV because he ‘misbehaved very badly’. Picture: Rex Features/Splash News.

The screen legend’s attitude to Sheen, 50, who confessed to contracting the disease this year, left audience members horrified.

Controversial ... Burt Reynolds has blasted Charlie Sheen for his ‘bad’ behaviour. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Corp Australia

Open ... Charlie Sheen recently revealed he is HIV positive. Picture: Chris Pizzello/Invision/APSource:AP

The shock exchange came after the show’s host Ruth Langsford asked Reynolds, whose own career was almost wrecked by false rumours of HIV in the 1980s, if he felt sorry for Sheen. Rather than express sympathy, the actor replied: “For Charlie, no, he deserves it. He misbehaved badly. Very badly.”

As the audience looked on in shock, he added hastily: “But you know when you’re that age, it’s tough. All those things are coming at you and it’s difficult.” He then appeared to support the backlash Sheen, star of Two And A Half Men, received in the press. Reynolds said: “He’s handled it badly I think. His father is a very, very decent man and a dear friend of mine.

“I feel bad for him, but Charlie, I don’t feel bad for him. He’s getting what he deserves. If you’re going to misbehave like that, they’re going to get you.”

‘Good if you’re a deviant’ ... Reynolds won a Golden Globe for his role as a porn director in Boogie Nights, but he hated the film. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

One audience member said after the recording: “Reynolds’s comments were ridiculously vile, no one could believe it.

“Ruth asked him about Charlie Sheen’s recent HIV revelation, as Burt was rumoured to have it in the past, and Reynolds replied that he ‘deserves it’.

“The audience were shocked — as were Ruth and Coleen — and there was an extremely awkward silence. Of course, HIV is something that no one deserves. The insensitivity of the man was unbelievable, and several people in the audience were sure his remarks would be edited out.”In his book, But Enough About Me, Reynolds tells of his anguish after a broken jaw sparked false rumours he was an HIV sufferer. The ordeal, which left him “crushed”, was highlighted during his interview.

Unfaithful ... Reynolds was with Sally Field for five years in the late 70s and early 80s, but their relationship was wrecked by his infidelity. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

He also told of his regret that he turned down the role of James Bond, which was later given to screen legend Sean Connery.

He said: “It was a stupid decision. I didn’t think an American could play it and at the time I didn’t feel like I had that kind of class.

“Sean Connery didn’t have that kind of class but he’s a wonderful actor so he played it.”

(Famously, Reynolds also turned down the role of Han Solo in Star Wars, the role which turned Harrison Ford into a global superstar.)

Speaking out ... In an interview with Matt Lauer on the Today Show in the US, Charlie Sheen, said he tested HIV-positive four years ago. Picture: Peter Kramer/NBC via AP.Source:AP

This is not the first time Reynolds — who was a notorious womaniser — has put forth his puritanical views. He recently spoke about never having seen Boogie Nights(he played a famous porn director), which reinvigorated his career, scored him an Oscar nomination, and a Golden Globe win.“I didn’t think it was good subject matter for me, but I’d made a whole bunch of films that were a lot of fun, you know? This wasn’t a fun picture,” he told Vanity Fair.

Reynolds elaborated further, going on to talk about the people in the adult industry who inspired the movie.

“It was good if you were a deviant ... I don’t think it makes them out to be what they are which is a bunch of very sad people. And it’s over for them when their career is over.”