(JTA) — Actor Charlie Sheen’s rant against the executive producer of his hit TV sitcom is "borderline anti-Semitism," the Anti Defamation League’s Abraham Foxman said.
Sheen, in a radio interview Feb. 24 and in a letter posted on the TMZ website, called the "Two and a Half Men" executive producer Chuck Lorre a "contaminated little maggot," said he was a "clown" and "stupid," and referred to him several times as Chaim Levine.
Lorre’s given name is Charles Michael Levine.
"By invoking television producer Chuck Lorre’s Jewish name in the context of an angry tirade against him, Charlie Sheen left the impression that another reason for his dislike of Mr. Lorre is his Jewishness. This fact has no relevance to Mr. Sheen’s complaint or disagreement, and his words are at best bizarre, and at worst, borderline anti-Semitism,” Foxman, ADL national director, said in a statement.
Sheen went on the defensive over the weekend, saying his statements were not anti-Semitic. He said in his letter to TMZ that he was "referring to Chuck by his real name, because I wanted to address the man, not the bulls**t TV persona."
"So you’re telling me, anytime someone calls me Carlos Estevez, I can claim they are anti-Latino?" Sheen continued, referring to his given name.
The CBS network on Feb. 25 cancelled filming of the final four episodes of the popular sitcom starring Sheen, and could cancel the show all together.
The New York Jewish Week brings you the stories behind the headlines, keeping you connected to Jewish life in New York. Help sustain the reporting you trust by donating today.
