Charlie Sheen has slammed allegations of anti-Semitism after blasting Two And A Half Men writer Chuck Lorre by his Hebrew name in an angry online missive.
The actor fired off a curt open letter to TMZ.com after TV producers announced they were shutting down production on the hit sitcom for the rest of the season.
In the message, Sheen unleashed his hatred for Lorre, calling him Chaim Levine, the Hebrew translation of the creator's birth name.
The reference prompted some critics to accuse Sheen of using Lorre's Jewish name in a derogatory manner - but the embattled star has hit out at the claims.
He tells TMZ.com, "I was referring to Chuck by his real name, because I wanted to address the man, not the bulls**t TV persona."
And Sheen, whose actor father Martin changed his family name from Estevez for film, is rattled by the anti-Semite allegations because of his own Latin roots.
He adds, "So you're telling me, anytime someone calls me Carlos Estevez, I can claim they are anti-Latino?"
Producers announced there would be no more Two and a Half Men this season after Sheen took to the airwaves on Thursday (24Feb11) and launched a vicious radio rant about creator Lorre, attacking the writer for his lack of "gratitude" and branding him "a stupid, stupid little man and a p**sy punk" for suspending filming on Two and a Half Men.
The hiatus was initiated in January (11) to allow Sheen to attend rehab for substance abuse issues. Filming was expected to resume next week (beg28Feb11).
The actor is refusing to take the season cancellation seriously - in a text message to the presenters of U.S. breakfast show Good Morning America on Friday (25Feb11), he claimed he is "100 per cent clean" and intends to show up for work on the Los Angeles set on Tuesday (01Mar11) as previously planned. (MT/WNWCZM&WNV/KL)
Meanwhile in other related news the troubled actor has explosive plans to make money now Two And A Half Men has been pulled - he's reportedly hunting for a $10 million deal to release his memoirs.
The star's personal and professional life has been crumbling in recent weeks after he was hospitalized following a wild party with hookers.
He started a rehab stint at his Los Angeles home, but couldn't stay out of trouble - he viciously lashed out at Two and a Half Men writer Chuck Lorre, prompting producers to scrap the sitcom for the rest of the season.
And according to TMZ.com, Sheen has revealed he wants to lift the lid on his eight years on the show in an explosive book - titled When The Laughter Stopped.
He reportedly tells the website he will reveal all about behind-the-scenes events - and wants negotiations with publishers to start at $10 million .
Tagged in Charlie Sheen