Charlie Sheen is getting raw and personal about his past in his upcoming two-part Netflix documentary, aka Charlie Sheen, and his memoir, The Book of Sheen. The 60-year-old actor, who has been sober since 2017, confessed he was “probably a sex addict” during a period of his life, reflecting on the highs and lows of his fame and personal struggles.
Confessions of a Sex Addict and HIV Diagnosis
In a candid interview with Good Morning America, Sheen admitted to being entangled in a sex addiction that reached its peak when he spent $53,000 on sex workers, as revealed during the 1996 trial of “Hollywood madam” Heidi Fleiss. Sheen acknowledged that his addiction to drugs, particularly crack cocaine, fueled his sexual behaviors, saying, “That’s what started it… That’s where it was born, or sparked.”
Charlie Sheen’s new Netflix documentary and memoir come out next week (Good Morning America)
Sheen also spoke about his same-sex experiences, something he had not publicly discussed before. “I flipped the menu over,” he said, explaining that drug use and sexual encounters with men went hand in hand for him. Sheen emphasized that revealing this part of his life was “f***ing liberating,” adding, “It’s like a train didn’t come through the side of the restaurant. No one ran into the room and shot me.”
Sheen’s struggles were compounded by extortion from people who discovered his HIV diagnosis. He told Good Morning America that some of his sexual partners blackmailed him after finding out about his HIV medication. “It did come with a tremendous amount of extortion,” Sheen explained, admitting that he paid to keep the situation quiet until he was ready to go public with his diagnosis in 2015.
A Look at His Recovery and Reflections on Fame
Sheen, who rose to fame with roles in Two and a Half Men and Platoon, has long been associated with his notorious behavior, especially during his public breakdowns in 2011 when he shouted about “tiger blood” and “winning.” Reflecting on that chaotic time, Sheen admitted that he regrets his actions and said that many people still associate him with those viral moments. “There’s probably a lot of people out there that still only know me from those viral clips… That was a moment in a really long career where things just went off the freaking rails,” he shared.
Having quit alcohol in 2017 and achieved sobriety since then, Sheen noted that he no longer identifies with the person he was during his wild years. “I don’t know who that is,” he confessed. “It’s weird. It’s like there’s a possession going on. I’m like, ‘Dude, God, stop. Pull it back.’”
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Sheen previously admitted to paying $53,000 for sex worker services (Netflix)
Opening Up About Love and Family
While Sheen’s past is filled with public scandals, his present seems more grounded. He reflected on his personal life, saying his romantic experiences have been “uneventful” for a long time, largely due to focusing on his children. “It wasn’t even by choice,” he explained, noting that after his daughters, Sami and Lola, moved in with their mother, Denise Richards, his sons, Bob and Max, took their place. Despite his past relationships, Sheen expressed that he is open to love again, though he isn’t sure about marriage.
“I’m open to love again. Probably not marriage, though,” Sheen said.
What’s Next for Sheen
Fans can expect even more personal revelations when Sheen’s two-part documentary, aka Charlie Sheen, debuts on Netflix on September 10. His memoir, The Book of Sheen, will also hit shelves on September 9, offering further insight into his complex life and struggles.
Through these projects, Sheen is not just revisiting his past but also attempting to make peace with it, sharing his story of addiction, recovery, and self-discovery with the world.
