Charlie Sheen on sobriety: “I don’t really believe in that lifestyle… that’s boring!”


Charlie Sheen was on David Letterman last night to promote his show Anger Management, on FX, which returns on Thursday. He was cagey when Dave asked whether he was still on drugs, implying he was, and he also said he doesn’t regret his epic meltdown. He acted like it was amazing and he fondly remembers that manic, drug-fuelled time in his life. I’m honestly surprised that it’s been nearly two years since Charlie spectacularly left his job as the highest paid actor on television, had a hoard of live-in prostitutes, and coined the most inventive phrases we’ve ever heard from a celebrity. I expected Charlie to spend an extended period of time in rehab, jail or the morgue, but none of that came to pass and Charlie is still around. He’s got a sense of humor about the whole thing, but he does admit that he’s embarrassed he was so vocal during his meltdown, which he calls a “meltforward.” Oh Charlie.

On his meltdown
A lot of it was memorable. A lot of it was experiences I would never otherwise have. I booked a 21 city tour in 33 days with no act.

On what he learned
I guess I’m not a normal person

On if he’s been to therapy
I spent 10 years in therapy. I quit about two years ago. Hey, right around the time of the meltdown… it was kind of a meltforward.

On whether he would go back on Two and a Half Men
I would like to go back, I would like to appear on their final episode.

On the fact that his character got killed off
I am dead but so is the show. They’re doing the best they can. One more season.

On Angus T Jones condemning the show
I haven’t spoken to him I don’t know.

On his relationship with Jon Cryer
He’s great, one of my favorite people. I did [call him a troll] but I retracted it. He’s a genius, he’s one of my favorite costars ever.

On if he’s embarrassed
Of course! Have you seen some of those interviews? That stuff’s out there forever, man. If I had to do it all over, I probably would have been a little less vocal.

On his ‘amazingly descriptive phrases’
It was just part of where my mind was going, thank you. Stuff was just falling out and then there were T-shirts. Boom. It was a trip.

On if he was using crack cocaine back then
I like to call it base. “Crack cocaine,” I love my life. You’re awesome, I love it. Here’s the confusing part. I wish it was crack cocaine. It wish it was an ocean of vodka, a bathtub full of pills. It was just my brain was kind of separated into itself and uh, I just had to take a stand for what was right.

Dave asks “and the cocaine was a factor”?
Not just the meltdown, the previous 30 years, sure.

On if he’s sober now
I don’t really believe in that lifestyle anymore cause it doesn’t seem fair — you guys don’t want me clean and sober, that’s boring!

[Quotes via CBS videos and Radar Online]

Please forgive me for saying that on some level I admire how Charlie Sheen is handling this. I hate that I’m saying that and I know he’s a crazy, drug-addled abusive a-hole – I know! But he’s like “yeah, I was embarrassed at how I acted but it’s all good.” Even though he’s a total addicted mess, there’s something appealing about the guy. He’s laughing at himself. I now need to go scrub myself from head to toe.

Over on The Huffington Post they report that Sheen told Letterman that he was about to be a grandfather. This begs the question: which child of Sheen’s is going to give birth? I thought he only had four kids, all little, but a quick glance at Wiki reveals that he has a 28 year-old daughter, Cassandra Jade Estevez, with his former high school girlfriend. That means that Sheen’s latest porn star/hooker girlfriend is younger than his oldest daughter. Of course she is.

Here are the videos of Charlie on The Late Show, thanks to Radar.

Photo credit: HRC/WENN.com

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69 Responses to “Charlie Sheen on sobriety: “I don’t really believe in that lifestyle… that’s boring!””

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  1. Lipsy says:

    I don’t know what to say… he’s proudly unapologetic. Also he sounds like he does a lot of good things to help those in need (except useless LL). Maybe he’s like one of those people who smoke and drink all their lives who live up to 100? I honestly hope he lives a long healthy life!

    • Nina W says:

      The guy doesn’t live in a vacuum and what he’s put his father through is not something to be proud of.

      • Suze says:

        Bingo.

        To us, he’s entertaining. To himself, he’s amusing. To his family and those who love him, I’m sure his antics are a sad emotional drain.

      • Belle says:

        Bingo x2

        I don’t think he is even remotely admirable. He is laughing at himself and his antics because he is on something.

    • k says:

      Let’s not forget about all of the people who die as a result of living near or being caught up in drug trafficking. Charlie Sheen’s charitable donations do not absolve him from his complicity.

      • Chelsea's handler says:

        Let’s not forget about all the people who die because of prohibition and the failed war on drugs.

  2. Madriani's Girl says:

    Two cigarettes at once and red lips. What a mess.

  3. Hannah says:

    Nuts, yet likeable.

  4. FassDaActor says:

    Well at least he’s honest. Smh

  5. KellyinSeattle says:

    And it’s starting to show on him; is he wearing lipstick? Maybe from kissing his young date. More, I feel what does Denise Richards think? She’s probably used to it but he’s not a good role model for his kids. Plus I think the show sucks, but the real travesty is how much hype Jon Cryer is getting. At least Charlie is a better actor than him or Asston, but STILL….

    • Happymom says:

      She knew what he was like when they got married. He was always a druggie/alcoholic who hung out with prostitutes. If she was concerned about his influence, she should have thought about it prior to getting pregnant. I’m guessing the amount of money he had seemed to outweigh his vices-at least for a little while.

      • Marie Antoinette Jr. says:

        Yes. The money but more importantly the fame and connections. Denise Richards was (and is) hell bent on being famous.

      • Laura says:

        Yes, let’s blame the abused woman. Bitch knew what she was getting into. It wasn’t like Charlie was pretending to be reformed, or like naive girls have bitten off more than they could chew before. It’s clearly all her fault. She was asking for it.

    • Miss M says:

      I think he was wearing makeup, look the eye shadows.

  6. lucy2 says:

    If it was just him affected by it all, whatever. But the fact is, he has 5 children, 4 of them very young. He had a show depending on him – crew members who need their job to take care of their own family. And he has parents who I assume were heartbroken to watch that and terrified he’d die. So it may be all fun and games to him, but there are a lot of people he’s hurting in the process. But I guess he’d rather not be “boring”.

  7. oivey says:

    Kinda want to think that his comment about being sober is double edged. Like he’s saying the general public doesnt actually care about my health because thats not entertaining but I suspect he actually believes what he’s saying.

    • Asiyah says:

      I actually took it that way, too. Like he’s basically saying “you guys don’t care about me enough to see me clean and sober anyway.”

    • decorative item says:

      I took it as an easy out for him. You don’t really want to see me sober, so I’ll just go on my merry way doing what I really wanted to do anyway.

  8. fabgrrl says:

    Yeah, Charlie Sheen has a “forgotten” daughter, born when he was about 19. She was pretty much raised by Charlie’s parents, I think, so she may have a good head on her shoulders.

    • NerdMomma says:

      Charlie was raised by Charlie’s parents and look how that turned out

      • fabgrrl says:

        True, true :^)

      • Redheadwriter says:

        Yup. Let’s blame the parents.

        Charlie is obviously facing mental health issues, whether from years of chemical abuse or organically.

      • oivey says:

        I was raised by brilliant parents. I have three older brothers, the eldest is an absolute asshole who is married to an absolute asshole. I’m the baby, and my other two older brothers are brilliant, well spoken, put together and lovely young men. It only takes one poisonous person to destroy another. Emilio isn’t anything like his brother, nor are the other two siblings.

      • Lilly says:

        Estevez family is a good catholic family, but all of us are the master of our fate. Only Charlie Sheen is responsable of his life.

  9. KellyinSeattle says:

    He obviously is chemically dependent and in complete denial, like it’s all a joke….interventions don’t work on him. Some people are just going to do whatever they want regardless of the consequences.

    • V4Real says:

      I agree with you; perhaps Charlie could take notes from RDJ. RDJ was on Letterman a couple of years back and Letterman asked him about Sheen and would he be willing to talk to him. The look on RDJ’s face says it all. He asks about Charlie half way through the interview after the break.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eYzhJKhvRw

  10. palermo says:

    If he thinks that is boring, just wait until he ends up in the hospital with his liver not functioning any more or riddled with lung cancer. The man is an ass and most likely will die a painful death earlier rather than later. I only feel sorry for his kids cause any woman who gets involved with him has all her screws loose.

  11. Cazzie says:

    How is it possible for me to actually be feeling sorry for a person who has over a hundred million dollars???

    And yet, I do. Poor man.

  12. Dhavynia says:

    I don’t care about his personal antics. I stopped watching Two and a half men when he left. He’s right, the show is dead.

  13. Jayna says:

    Funny how he toned all this way down to get the job with Anger Management and/or when he was trying to get his job back with 2 and a Half Men. Now it’s creeping out again bit by bit. As long as it’s managable, I don’t care. It’s when he spins horribly out of control that it affects all of those around him, i.e., children, his castmastes losing their jobs if this new show fails because of it, etc.

    • Belle says:

      I don’t think he has to spin horribly out of control to affect his family negatively. Even if he is holding it together publicly, there is no way he is not hurting people.

  14. Skipper says:

    He must be exhausted. Isn’t he tired and achey and has a never ending cough and people always pissed off at him? Him and all the rock stars from the sixties, Keith Richards etc. really show you how resilient the body can be but who the hell wants to live life in one constant haze/hangover.

    • mommak918 says:

      I agree..I mean, wouldn’t it feel good to be cleaned up and sober sometimes? But, if you think about it…he’s an addict, he probably is in pain when sober. And mentally, when you’ve done enough dirty, bad things as he has…you probably don’t want to be sober and alone in your mind. So you stay high/drunk to escape…
      I see this with Lindsey too. You make your own reality and stay high so you don’t have to face the ugly world you created…..

      • Skipper says:

        I guess that’s the nature of addiction. It really just looks physically exhausting to me, especially as he gets older.

  15. blonde on the dock says:

    Well at least he’s honest…..unlike most of Hollywood.

  16. Esmom says:

    It’s hard to believe he is alive today. I thought for sure he would die during that meltdown phase.

    If he’s this funny when he’s addled (which he clearly, sadly is), imagine how brilliant he’d be sober. What a waste. If I was his parent I’d be beside myself with grief and fear.

  17. Dawn says:

    I have to say that I love Charlie Sheen as an actor. I think he has so much talent and is always likeable on screen even when he is playing a cad. As for his personal life of booze, drugs and hookers it has no effect on me. I am sure however that it must be exhausting for his parents, siblings, Denise Richards and his children (especially his oldest daughter) but I will leave the judgments up to them. I wish he would try for a sober life because I am selfish and want to see him work more and have a long life. And he is right, Two and Half suck without him. Anger Management rocks if you haven’t seen it. Very funny show.

  18. happyhomo says:

    Why is it that Charlie Sheen can drink and do drugs and get more t.v shows,commercials and money thrown at him than he knows what to do with but Lindsey Lohan gets called trash and black listed from Hollywood for the same exact behavior.I don’t feel sorry for Lindsey or anything I just hate these double standards.If she were a man she’d be loved as much as him for being a crack head.

    • fabgrrl says:

      Easy:

      A) Charlie Sheen was(is?) quite a talented actor. At LL’s age he hadn’t fallen apart and was at the top of his game.

      B) Famous family.

    • Spooky says:

      And let’s be honest, if she were charming she’d get a hell of a lot more of a pass but she isn’t so she doesn’t.

    • akua says:

      Also, I’m guessing he’s more likely to show up/cause fewer delays, that sort of thing than LL? Remember that distinction being made by someone at some point.

    • lucy2 says:

      He’s also (somehow) not out driving drunk, crashing cars, punching people, stealing, trashing trailers and hotels, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a mess and hurting those around him, but Lindsay spreads her damage pretty far and wide.

      • MrsBPitt says:

        Umm…wasn’t he arrested for holding a knife to his wifes throat? LL has punched people, but I don’t think she has gone that far yet!

    • Pirouette says:

      Good old fashioned sexism.

  19. mia girl says:

    To think back in the days of Ferris Bueller and Lucas, this guy was hot. Now, it’s sad to see the physical state he’s in.

    He is entertaining and a fairly good actor… but his entire lifestyle and pov are gross. Just because he’s honest about it doesnt excuse it. We all pile on Cracken for becoming a “professional” but Charlie is the other side of the equation. One of the guys that hires Lilos of the world. He is narcissistic, drug riddled and bent on self destruction. It’s sad.

    He’s put his family, friends and work associates through hell. For this, he sucks.

    • LAK says:

      Most of Hollywood behind closed doors is gross. Charlie is a pussycat compared to some in Hollywood. Google Don Simpson. That guy makes Charlie look like a kindergarten kid in comparison.

      The most pitied people in Hollywood are assistants and Publicists. The first group because of the hell they have to put up with, and the latter for the efforts they go to keep it away from the public.

  20. DreamyK says:

    Addicts are very charming. If it was only himself that he was hurting, fine. But it’s not. He has children, parents, siblings etc who are involved and invested in his health.

    Charlie fancies himself as the sort of Hunter S. Thompson in the acting world.

    Hey, Charlie? Hunter committed suicide after all those years of drinking and drugging by shooting himself in the head while his family was in the next room.

    Don’t blame the public for your substance abuse by pawning it off saying that sobriety is too boring and we want to see the clown dance and do some more tricks.

    • Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

      I’ve never heard of the addict who has only hurt himself. And if I were responsible for his fiasco existence due to my need to watch, he would have become permanently unemployed at some time around 1987. Listen Beta, just be grateful for the money and career that you have in spite of yourself rather than foist a shred of responsibility over your problems on us. You’re the one who chose to embark on a slander arena tour and I chose to not be stupid enough to endorse it, so in your world doesn’t that entitle me to receive a note of appreciation? Non-sequential is best. It’s so sad that no one has ever tried to help him or that he has a built-in fan base from his decades-long career who wanted to see what you had up your sleeve. Poor bunny.

      Look, I know from mental illness, intimately. But I also see chronic explained-away scuzz, and he’s got both.

  21. Mich says:

    To those comparing Lilo and this mess of a man. The difference is that Lilo is constantly going on about how people are being unfair to her, how they are lying, how she is clean and sober, how she didn’t do whatever crime she is accused of, etc. She sues other people for imagined slights at the drop of a hat. She is violent towards complete strangers. She is pathologically unrepentant and unreliable and, at the same time, an arrogant jackass.

    I think Charlie is a selfish ass and a hopeless addict but at least he more or less confines his criminal behavior to his own home. He also doesn’t lie about what he is.

    I’m not excusing him but there is really no comparison to the Cracken situation.

    • Hmmm says:

      He has been violent with women in the past. He just is more cunning and smarter than Lohan.

    • Cecada says:

      Maybe Charlie’s just to damn LAZY to bother lying about it.

      He looks absolutely awful, btw. He is the color of… well, what color do you call that kind of pale-grey?

    • Bolivar says:

      I wonder too if it’s because Charlie really didn’t “come out” as a crazy, drug-addled mess until later in his career (come out in the tabloids at least). Plus, he’s taken the time to actually WORK as an actor and develop as an actor, whereas LL seems to just do gigs to get enough scratch to party with.

      As far as confining his criminal behaviour to his home, that doesn’t exactly make him wonderful, preying on his loved ones. My father did this – bastard at home, prince on the streets. My dad really gave us a lot of challenges to overcome.

      I’m sure Charlie is messing up his kids and wives, family and friends. I can’t admire that.

      But I can, and do, grudgingly admire that the man seems to be totally honest about the situation, his intentions, his addictions. He doesn’t have his publicist issue retractions, fake apologies, or stage ridiculously insincere public service good-works, like Gibson meeting with Jewish leaders to help him, “…discern the appropriate path for healing” – puh-LEASE! [Access Hollywood site,”Statement from Mel Gibson”, 8/1/2006]

      Charlie is unapologetically who he is. He doesn’t bother to lie about it, and he doesn’t insult the public with, “those weren’t my pants [LL on the coke found in her pockets]”, or “Hatred of any kind goes against my faith” Gibson, or “I’ve hurt me most of all” Jesse James. Charlie’s a crazy, coked-out mess and he’s out & proud.

      I can have respect for someone who owns ALL of their behaviour – the saintly AND the crappy. Charlie’s f’d up, but he’s no hypocrite.

      I kind of hate myself for saying this, but he would be fun to have a few drinks with – he seems to not take himself very seriously, and have a gonzo sense of humor. But, of course, only drinks in a public place, and I wouldn’t stay long enough for him to get soused (otherwise = trouble!).

  22. Maria_Spain says:

    A real walking dead -_-

  23. Spooky says:

    If he didn’t have children and had never physically harmed another human being he’d get a free pass from me because I think he’s an intelligent & humorous guy AND I think AA is a cult BUT he does and he has, so he doesn’t.

  24. Nico says:

    Is he holding TWO cigarettes in that picture on the bottom? I hope so.

  25. Mouse says:

    Gross. Appealing is not a word I will ever use to describe this person.

  26. N-Bear says:

    How would he know if living clean and sober was boring?

    • Cecada says:

      Exactly! He talks about it as if he’s actually TRIED it!

    • Belle says:

      The boring comment is just a sarcastic excuse… typical of the ‘charming’ addict. Just like one of those jackasses who insist they drive better when they have been drinking. Yeah. Okay.

  27. Hmmm says:

    Psychopaths can have tons of charm. No one does “honest” and “self-deprecating” like a psychopath. All smoke and mirrors. When all Charlie is is a debauched, amoral waste of space who contributes nothing of value to the world and takes everything. But he sure is charming! Let’s admire him.

  28. erika says:

    well, that’s too bad your ex wife brooke mueller feels the same way! you know, charlie’s able to skate by w/ his drug/whore addiction but that broken bones of a bitch can’t!!! sorry! I despise brook m.,

    she has a shoe full of children in her home and a om that can’t even be bothered to take care of one if odddddd d whatevs….

  29. WendyNerd says:

    It is my experience that people who find any time period devoid of some sort of narcotic boring usually aren’t very intelligent. The reason he would find such a lifestyle “boring” is probably because he’s not clever enough to entertain himself with more substantial and useful pursuits. I bet at this point he can’t pay attention to anything for very long or properly grasp a lot of things because his brain is so fried. So, as a result, everything is “boring”. Also, being as self-centered as he is can’t help. I bet he is incapable of taking any interest in doing something or thinking about anything that doesn’t serve or instantly gratify Charlie.

    He’s a loathsome toad and perfect example of what a life of nothing but self-gratification, hedonism, and self-centeredness get you. You get to the point where you are old and can no longer take pleasure in anything that doesn’t ultimately harm you, such as drugs.

    Yes, Charlie, you see, after decades of being a drug-abusing, philandering, abusive asshole, you are no doubt trapped inside your own head, unable to grasp or take in the real world and what it has to offer, and the only thing that offers you respite is undoubtedly a toxifying substance or constant sex. And you will know doubt spend a great deal more time in this state, since just as you have spoiled your mind, you’ve developed an intense resistance to the narcotics you use so much. You’re trapped, Charlie. You trapped yourself.

    If you need drugs and/or alcohol to be entertaining or to be entertained, then you were never much of a person to begin with. At least, you don’t seem to think you were. You are really pathetic. Not so special after all, are you? If you need drugs and alcohol to have fun or be fun.

    Keep clinging to your fantasies, Charlie. And your wealth and drugs and booze. When you die, your kids will be old enough to hate you, and the only people you’ll have around are your hangers-on. If you’re lucky, you’ll have some relatives around, shaking their heads and cursing you for not living the life you should have. Not being more than just a crazy, drug-addled violent hedonist when you had every opportunity imaginable. When you die, if you are remembered, it won’t be for your acting. It’ll be for being a trainwreck. And that’s all you’ll end up being. A trainwreck and, on occasion, a Dancing Monkey.

    Hope it was worth it, Charlie. It’s all you deserve.

    • Belle says:

      Sadly, many intelligent, clever people turn to drugs and/or alcohol for various reasons that have nothing to do with their IQ. His comments about being ‘boring’ when sober are (as I posted above, sorry for the repeat) simply sarcastic excuses for his continued drug abuse. He thinks he is being charming and humorous, but he is doing what most drug addicts who are up-front about their drug use do… try to rationalize it.

      I don’t believe for one second that if this man were off drugs and clean for long enough to put things into perspective, that he would really find he was too boring. As with anyone who abuses drugs and manages to get clean, he would look back on his behavior and realize how crazy it was, and how many people he hurt, including himself and his career. Addicts don’t see themselves the way others see them… they actually convince themselves that they are functioning normally… and that they are ‘funnier’ when they are high, or somehow manage to be more creative, etc., etc. I think this is probably one of many reasons why getting clean can be so difficult. There is a reason they are using drugs in the first place… some pain or difficulty that they don’t want to deal with. One of the first things you are confronted with if you get clean is how hideously awful you have behaved to so many people. The guilt and embarrassment alone would be enough to drive many back to drugs… add in the physical craving for drugs, and… yikes!

  30. serena says:

    He’s a mess but that charming part about him.. well he’s a good showman, and that’s it, the charm and everything that seems appealing. I understand it too.

  31. Bobby the K says:

    He’s honest and that is refreshing.
    But he doesn’t look well. It’s obvious that his liver is stressed.

  32. Mrs. Ari Gold says:

    The man has two small kids! He is a father and no one seems to care. THIS IS NOT OK BEHAVIOR FOR A FATHER.

  33. Ari says:

    Well he has one thing going for him at least he admits his problems. Now if only LL could learn to do this. If she could just laugh at herself (for real) and accept that she is an addict of some kind and get her act slightly together to even manage to get on a show on Letterman or even a tv show maybe she can somehow make a comeback.

  34. Laura says:

    The fact that he’s unapologetic is what makes me unforgiving. You know who else is unapologetic? Chris Brown. Charlie is still claiming that he’s in the right, so we know he doesn’t regret anything. Ergo, he’s still a disgusting pustule to me.