Charlie Sheen Says Testosterone Cream Fueled His Infamous 2011 Sitcom Meltdown
Charlie Sheen learned the hard way that anger, fame and testosterone cream were far from a “winning” combination.
In his new memoir, The Book of Sheen, the Two and a Half Men alum claims that a topical hormone cream fueled his highly-publicized 2011 meltdown more than crack, booze and other drugs. Unlike the other substances he had been using, Sheen said he didn’t understand how the hormone was impacting his anger, which he says made it harder for him to cope with his addiction struggles.
“I was slathering on in mind-altering gobs like a fucken (sic) Pond’s commercial,” he writes, explaining that his early efforts at sobriety “didn’t go as planned.” “I’d been using it to get my body back into shape, not knowing that at the same time I was being shape-shifted."
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While topical testosterone creams can sometimes cause “mood swings, irritability (and) hostility,” these side effects allegedly led to Sheen developing an “identical psych profile” to that of an anabolic steroid user. “Anyone who bore witness to the raging demon I melded with will hopefully glean some clarity for what my state of mind was up against,” Sheen continued.
This testosterone-fueled mindset also possibly played a role in his now-infamous usage of “tiger blood” and “winning” during a 20/20 interview, terms Sheen claimed he initially picked up from former MLB player Brian Wilson.
“I was so jacked on the Krazy Kreme, those phrases went into my brain and stayed on a loop just below the surface,” he recalled, disclosing that he chatted with the now-retired San Francisco Giants pitcher before his ill-fated TV appearance. “They were patient with one eye on the door, waiting for the right customer to show up, be seated, and casually ask about the specials.”
The actor, who is now eight years sober, also took care to note that he was "not making excuses or asking for a pass” for his behavior. Instead, he hoped that sharing his experiences could clarify what was actually going on during that tumultuous time.
“I’ve heard great things about the drug when used responsibly,” Sheen concluded, “but let’s keep it real — drugs and responsible are two words I never made a habit of cramming into the same sentence.”
