Charlie Sheen Opens Up About Past Sexual Encounters with Men in New Memoir and Documentary
Los Angeles, CA – September 7, 2025 – Charlie Sheen, the Golden Globe-winning actor known for his roles in Two and a Half Men and Platoon, has publicly discussed his past sexual encounters with men for the first time, describing the experience as “f—ing liberating.” The revelations come as part of his upcoming memoir, The Book of Sheen, set for release on September 9, and a Netflix documentary, aka Charlie Sheen, premiering on September 10. Sheen, 60, shared these insights in a candid cover story with People magazine and interviews with outlets like Good Morning America, shedding light on a previously private chapter of his life.
Sheen revealed that his sexual experiences with men began during a period of heavy crack cocaine use. “That’s what started it,” he told People. “That’s where it was born, or sparked. And in whatever chunks of time that I was off the pipe, trying to navigate that, trying to come to terms with it—‘Where did that come from? Why did that happen?’—and then just finally being like, ‘So what?’ Some of it was weird. A lot of it was f—ing fun, and life goes on.” In the documentary, Sheen described the act of speaking openly about these encounters as freeing, noting, “It’s like a train didn’t come through the side of the restaurant. A f—ing piano didn’t fall out of the sky. No one ran into the room and shot me.”
The actor, who publicly disclosed his HIV diagnosis in 2015, admitted that he kept these encounters secret for years due to extortion attempts. “It did come with a tremendous amount of extortion,” Sheen told Good Morning America’s Michael Strahan. “At the time, I was just like, ‘Alright, let’s just pay to keep it quiet. And just hope it just stays over there, make it go away, you know? Make it go away.’” He explained that some individuals who stayed overnight at his home took photos of his HIV medication to blackmail him, making him feel like a “hostage” to his own past.
Sheen’s openness extends to other aspects of his tumultuous past, including his struggles with addiction and his infamous 2011 “tiger blood” tour, which he now regrets. “That tour didn’t have to happen,” he told People, reflecting on the chaotic 20-city run that followed his dismissal from Two and a Half Men. “I’m not a victim, but somebody should have tapped out for me and said, ‘This is a bad idea.’” Now eight years sober, Sheen emphasized his commitment to moving forward, stating, “I’m not going to run from my past, or let it own me.”
The memoir and documentary also touch on personal milestones, including his improved relationship with ex-wife Denise Richards, who attended the Los Angeles premiere of aka Charlie Sheen on September 4. Richards shared an Instagram post celebrating their journey, writing, “What a journey we’ve had—so many ups and downs. But when life gets tough, deep down we both know we can count on each other.” However, her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, criticized her attendance, alleging to TMZ that Richards had caused Sheen “extreme embarrassment and pain” in the past.
Sheen’s revelations have sparked varied reactions. Some fans on X praised his honesty, with one user posting, “Respect to Charlie Sheen for owning his truth and not hiding anymore.” Others were skeptical, with comments like, “Sounds like he’s just trying to sell books and stay relevant.” The actor also made a public plea to reconnect with former Two and a Half Men co-star Jon Cryer, expressing gratitude for Cryer’s contribution to the documentary but noting he hadn’t heard back.
As Sheen prepares for the release of his projects, he remains focused on living authentically. “I just need to be free of that,” he said of his past secrecy, “and see how the world feels if people know that stuff.” With The Book of Sheen and aka Charlie Sheen, the actor is not only confronting his past but also redefining his legacy—one unfiltered truth at a time.
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