Charlie Sheen has never been one to stay silent, but his latest revelations are turning heads. At 60, the former “Two and a Half Men” star is speaking openly about experiences he’s kept private for decades—including sexual encounters with men. The candid disclosure comes in his upcoming Netflix documentary, a k a Charlie Sheen, set to premiere on September 10, and it marks the first time he has publicly addressed this part of his life.
“I flipped the menu over,” Sheen says bluntly, describing his first experience with a man, which occurred during a period when he was using heavy drugs like crack. For years, he avoided talking about these moments, wrestling with confusion and judgment. But now, he insists, he is done hiding.
“I’m not going to run from my past, or let it own me,” Sheen told People in a cover story this week. The actor described the act of speaking publicly about his sexual history as liberating. “It’s f–king liberating… Just talking about stuff. No one shot me, no pianos fell out of the sky. Nothing catastrophic happened,” he said, injecting his signature mix of humor and defiance.
From Addiction to Acceptance
Sheen’s exploration of his sexuality began during his years of drug abuse. He candidly admits that drugs like crack played a role in shaping these experiences. “That’s what started it,” he explained. “That’s where it was born, or sparked. And then I spent time off the pipe, trying to figure it out—‘Where did that come from? Why did that happen?’ Eventually, I just thought, ‘So what?’ Some of it was strange, some of it was fun, and life goes on.”
It’s a perspective that reflects both recklessness and acceptance, a tension Sheen has lived with publicly for years. His openness also touches on darker chapters of his life. In 2015, he revealed on the Today show that he had contracted HIV during a drug-fueled sexual encounter. At the time, he spoke about being exploited by people who knew about his diagnosis, claiming he paid millions to keep the information private.
“I do know for a fact that I never passed it on,” Sheen clarified. He’s adamant that he’s no longer hiding behind secrecy. “I’m ready to tell my own story, on my terms,” he said. “I don’t see myself as a victim. It takes two to tango.”
Regrets and Reflection
Despite the honesty, Sheen acknowledges missteps, particularly during the height of his public meltdown in 2011, when he coined the infamous “tiger blood” phrase. “That tour didn’t have to happen,” he admitted. “I’m not a victim, but somebody should have stepped in and said, ‘This is a bad idea.’” He reflected that no mental health guide he’s read would ever recommend exploiting a person as therapy.
Since then, Sheen says he’s spent the last eight years making amends with those he hurt during his struggles with addiction. Today, his priorities have shifted dramatically. Parenting his 16-year-old twins, Bob and Max, takes precedence over his romantic life.
“My love life is as uneventful as it could be,” he confessed. “It’s not by choice. The girls [Sami and Lola] moved in with their mom, then the boys moved in with me. There just wasn’t room in the car, and I spent so much energy chasing that for so long. I needed to find a place where I could be alone, but not lonely.”
Still Open to Love
Three divorces have shaped Sheen’s outlook on relationships. He was married to Donna Peele in 1996, Denise Richards in 2006, and Brooke Mueller in 2011. Yet, he hasn’t closed the door on romance entirely.
“I’m open to love again. Probably not marriage, though,” he admitted with a chuckle. His honesty about both past misadventures and future possibilities highlights a new chapter in a life that has long been scrutinized by the public.
Public reaction to Sheen’s revelations has been mixed. Many praise his transparency, seeing it as a step toward breaking stigmas surrounding sexuality and addiction. Others remain shocked, recalling the chaos that has often surrounded him. Yet, Sheen seems unfazed by controversy, focusing instead on reclaiming his narrative and embracing his truth without apology.
A New Chapter
The two-part Netflix documentary and his memoir, The Book of Sheen, released on September 9, promise a raw, unfiltered look at the actor’s life. Sheen is determined to confront his past, including moments of indulgence, mistakes, and unexpected joy, while also showcasing the growth that has come with age and reflection.
For Charlie Sheen, the message is clear: he will no longer be defined by scandal or secrecy. Instead, he is embracing a life of openness, accountability, and, perhaps most importantly, honesty. His story may surprise some, but it is undeniably his own—a tale of excess, reckoning, and ultimately, liberation.
