Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson, pictured here at Jackie Robinson Day game between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles on April 15, 2015, recently commented on Charlie Sheen's (not pictured) announcement that he's HIV-positive. Getty

Just one day after actor Charlie Sheen announced to the public that he’s HIV-positive, one key figure in the battle for HIV awareness is speaking up in support of the former “Two and a Half Men” star.

While many American’s struggle with HIV every day, there is perhaps no one as popular as former NBA star Magic Johnson when it comes to spreading awareness for the disease. The 56-year-old former L.A. Laker took to Twitter soon after the news broke about Sheen's condition on Tuesday to show him support.

The words of encouragement were soon followed by another tweet from the former NBA star in which he shared his hopes that a high-profile celebrity like Sheen would help push his cause for HIV awareness in the United States.

After making a similar HIV announcement in 1991, Johnson has been a staunch advocate for helping people struggling with the illness. According to Us Weekly, he previously created the Magic Johnson Foundation in an effort to help combat HIV and routinely works with the United Nations for similar reasons as well. After Sheen made his announcement, many people compared his situation to that of Johnson, who has lived with the disease for quite a while despite its life-threatening side effects.

Sheen made the announcement during an appearance on NBC's "Today." He told Matt Lauer that he’s been living with his diagnosis for four years. Later, the show posted an open letter the “Anger Management” star wrote on its website, which further explains the circumstances of his big reveal.

“Roughly four years ago, I suddenly found myself in the throws of a seismic and debilitating three-day cluster-migraine-like headache. I was emergently hospitalized with what I believed to be a brain tumor or perhaps some unknown pathology. I was partially correct,” the actor wrote. “Following a battery of endless tests, that included a hideous spinal tap, it was sadly and shockingly revealed to me that I was, in fact, positive for HIV.”

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