Charlie Sheen is no stranger to controversy, and his outspoken personality has landed him in the headlines more than once. Known for his fallout with showrunner Chuck Lorre after his dramatic exit from Two and a Half Men, Sheen has also openly criticized Lorre’s other projects—most notably The Big Bang Theory. Despite calling the hit sitcom “stupid” and “lame,” Sheen once claimed he deserved financial compensation for its success.
Sheen’s Claims About The Big Bang Theory
In the aftermath of his Two and a Half Men departure in the early 2010s, Sheen returned to television with the sitcom Anger Management. Around this time, the actor made bold statements, claiming that The Big Bang Theory owed part of its success to the programming schedule that followed his new show. In an interview with The Guardian, Sheen said, “You gotta think about the shows that my show launched.”
He went on to express regret for not including a clause in his contracts to benefit from this perceived boost. “I should have added in a clause that said anything that uses me as a lead-in, cut me in,” Sheen declared. According to him, the scheduling of The Big Bang Theory after Anger Management helped the CBS sitcom capture a larger audience.
Harsh Criticism of The Big Bang Theory
Despite his claims of boosting its success, Sheen did not hold back on criticizing The Big Bang Theory. He referred to the show as “a piece of sh*t” and “stupid,” adding that it wouldn’t have survived without the help of his own show’s lead-in. Sheen remarked:
“I’m sorry, but Big Bang Theory is a piece of sh*t – it’s a stupid show and it’s just lame, about lame people. I like the kids in it, but that show without us as a lead-in is… goodbye.”
While Sheen expressed support for the cast, calling them “kids” he was “rooting for,” he didn’t mince words about the sitcom’s creator, Chuck Lorre. “I know who they’re dealing with. The fact that they’re still sane is crazy. He’s a bad man. And I’ve backed off from him for a while.”
The Sheen-Lorre Relationship: From Allies to Adversaries
Charlie Sheen and Chuck Lorre started their professional relationship on a high note, with Sheen starring in the wildly successful Two and a Half Men. At the height of the show’s popularity, Sheen was reportedly earning $1.8 million per episode, making him one of the highest-paid actors on television.
However, the relationship soured when Sheen made offensive remarks about Lorre in public, resulting in his termination from the show. The fallout marked one of the most infamous celebrity feuds of the decade.
Despite the bad blood, Sheen and Lorre eventually reconciled. In a surprising turn of events, Sheen even made a cameo in Lorre’s recent comedy series, The Bookie.
A Legacy of Drama
Sheen’s comments about The Big Bang Theory reflect his larger-than-life personality and his complicated history with Hollywood. While he may no longer be at the center of primetime sitcoms, his legacy—both as a talented actor and a controversial figure—continues to generate conversation. Whether or not his claims about The Big Bang Theory hold water, they add another chapter to the storied relationship between Sheen, Chuck Lorre, and the world of television.
