Burt Reynolds on Charlie Sheen's HIV diagnosis: 'He's getting what he deserves'

Hollywood veteran Burt Reynolds has been slammed for saying that Charlie Sheen "deserved" to contract HIV because he "misbehaved badly".

The 79-year-old Boogie Nights Oscar nominee made the controversial remark on British talk show Loose Women, when asked if he sympathised with Charlie, 50. Watch his shocking comments above.

Burt, who says he's a "dear friend" of Charlie's father Martin Sheen, was the subject of HIV rumours back in the 1980s after extreme weight loss due to a prescription painkiller addiction.

UK HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust has blasted Burt's "ignorant" statements.

"The comments made today on Charlie Sheen's HIV status are completely unnecessary," Shaun Griffin, the charity's executive director of external affairs told the Independent. "It is not right for anybody to be deemed 'deserving' of HIV, or any health condition."

Viewers erupted on Twitter, with some criticising host Ruth Langsford for not challenging Burt on his remarks.

Charlie is currently facing a lawsuit from his porn star ex-fiancée Brett Rossi, who claims he forced her to get an abortion because of his HIV-positive status.

The former Two and a Half Men star has denied Brett's assault allegations, with his lawyer calling her an "extortionist".

Charlie's lawyer also told US Weekly that Brett, 26, "insisted upon having unprotected sex with Sheen".