Charlie Sheen has recognized he has issues which need to be identified and dealt with at a deeper level. He’s admitted his need for help. Well sort of.
The Hollywood Reporter was among the first to report that Sheen is taking a leave of absence from his hit show, “Two and a Half Men,” to pursue rehabilitation to assist him in light of the domestic violence issues that have surfaced in his marriage.
“As a preventative measure, Charlie Sheen has entered a rehabilitation facility,” said Stan Rosenfield, his publicist. “He will take some time off his series ‘Two and a Half Men.’ He has asked that his privacy be honored. No further statements are planned.”
Rosenfield characterized the actor’s decision as “preventative,” http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib108b71d68d61db98df0d59a57d33681 which is the interesting part of this. One of the keys to rehabilitation is being able to admit the need for help. Mr. Sheen spent the better part of Christmas Day in an Aspen, Colorado jail after allegedly choking his wife, Brooke Mueller. Reports claimed that Sheen accused Mueller of being the aggressor.
Now, without doubt, it takes some serious conviction to walk away from a show that pays him about a half a million dollars per show. That is important and commendable. To call it a “preventative measure” leaves room within the spin cycle to interpret it as either a smart and humble move in the eyes of the public or a healthy move of personal responsibility for a man who’s been violent in this, his third marriage.
In his first divorce, Sheen and ex-wife Denise Richards waged an ugly court battle replete with accusations and counter-accusations of the worst kind. He also accidentally shot actress Kelly Preston in the arm while engaged to her. I respect Mr. Sheen (actually, Mr. Estevez!) for making the decision to get help. I know that it will only be significant if he’s there for authentic transformation, rather than for appearances. I wish him the best, and he has my prayers for a complete recovery and future health and happiness.