Charlie Sheen sues National Enquirer over Corey Haim rape allegation

Sheen claims the publication's editor has a 'personal vendetta' against him

Jack Shepherd
Saturday 09 December 2017 06:12 EST
(Getty Images)

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Charlie Sheen has filed a defamation lawsuit against the National Enquirer, claiming the tabloid falsely alleged he raped Corey Haim in an article published 8 November.

The publication reported that the pair were filming the 1986 movie Lucas when Sheen, who was 19 at the time, allegedly sodomised Haim, who was 13.

“[T]he editor of National Enquirer, Defendant Dylan Howard, is running the story against Mr. Sheen because of a personal vendetta that arose after he was unable to be the first to break the story that Mr. Sheen was HIV positive," attorney Shane Bernard writes in the filed complaint.

According to the complaint, the article also alleges Sheen pushed Haim "down a drug-fuelled path to an early grave" and preyed on other children.

Speaking to TMZ, Sheen — who has denied the allegations — said: "In my nearly 35 years as a celebrated entertainer, I have been nothing shy of a forthright, noble and valiant courier of the truth.

“Consistently admitting and owning a laundry list of shortcomings, wrongdoings and indiscretions this traveler hath traveled. However, every man has a breaking point.”

Sheen also pointed to a recent televised interview with Haim’s mother where she denies Sheen ever had sexual relations with Haim, who died in 2010.

A spokesperson for the publishing company behind the National Enquirer, American Media, told The Hollywood Reporter: "We look forward to litigating against Charlie Sheen, and can’t wait to expose his depravities in a court of law.”

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