Denise Richards was upset that Charlie Sheen didn't inform her before revealing his HIV diagnosis

Denise Richards recently shared that she felt upset with her ex-husband, Charlie Sheen, when he publicly announced his HIV diagnosis in 2015 without first informing her. She had wished for a heads-up so she could prepare their daughters, Sami and Lola, before they found out from the news or their peers.
In a conversation on the podcast Whine Down with Jana Kramer, Richards explained that she never had detailed discussions with her daughters about their parents' past controversies, simply because they didn’t usually search for information online. However, she acknowledged that Sheen’s life had been highly publicized, making it difficult to shield the children from media attention.
According to a report by People, Richards said she would occasionally warn her daughters that they might hear things at school and encouraged them to ask her directly if they had any questions.
Richards recalled feeling caught off guard when Sheen went on the Today show in 2015 and revealed his diagnosis to the world. She understood that he felt pressured to speak out because the tabloids had already started digging into the story. However, she wished he had at least given her a call before making the announcement.
Because of the sudden media coverage, Richards said she picked up her daughters early from school that day to prevent them from learning about their father’s condition from classmates. She then had to have a difficult conversation with them, explaining what HIV was in a way they could understand.
When Sheen revealed his diagnosis in 2015, he explained that he had been diagnosed four years earlier after experiencing severe headaches and night sweats. Speaking to Matt Lauer, Sheen said he wanted to end speculation and stop harmful rumors that suggested he was endangering others.
"I’m here to admit that I am in fact HIV-positive and I have to put a stop to this onslaught," Sheen said at the time.
Richards also opened up about her co-parenting relationship with Sheen, saying they had very different parenting styles. She admitted that they didn’t co-parent in a traditional way and instead parented separately.
She described her current relationship with Sheen as civil but distant, saying there is no conflict, but they are not close friends. She expressed a wish that they could have a stronger bond for the sake of their daughters but accepted that it was not the case at the moment.
Richards also spoke about Sheen’s twin sons, Bob and Max, whom he had with his ex-wife Brooke Mueller after his marriage to Richards. She said she had always wanted to create a blended family environment, where all the children felt included and never had to choose sides.
Despite their past struggles, Richards remains hopeful that one day, she and Sheen might have a better relationship as co-parents. However, for now, they continue to raise their daughters separately, each in their own way.