Charlie Sheen Drops $100 Million Bomb on Warners, Chuck Lorre: "You Corporate Trolls Were Warned!"

Actor says he's suing for not only himself, but also on behalf of the cast and crew plus punitive damages

By Claudia Rosenbaum, Marianne Garvey Mar 10, 2011 8:19 PMTags
Charlie SheenAP Photo/Joe Tabacca

Charlie Sheen is bringing down his hammer on "the corporate trolls."

Following through on his threat following his firing from Two and a Half Men, the Vatican warlock assassin has filed a $100 million lawsuit against show producer Warner Bros. and creator Chuck Lorre.

Sheen, saying he's not just striking a blow for himself but for the beleaguered crew, is demanding to get paid for the eight episodes that never got made.

"Fastball, torpedo away...You corporate trolls were warned. And now you've been served!" he tweeted.

In the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Sheen and attorney Marty Singer go after Sheen's ex-boss.

"Chuck Lorre, one of the richest men in television who is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, believes himself to be so wealthy and powerful that he can unilaterally decide to take money away from the dedicated cast and crew of the popular television series, Two and a Half Men, in order to serve his own ego and self-interest, and make the star of the Series the scapegoat for Lorre's own conduct."

According to Sheen—and despite a contract that extended through the 2011-12 season—the decision to fire the actor was made before Sheen and Lorre publicly fought, and so that Lorre could free himself up to concentrate on his other shows (The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly).

Among the other highlights, Sheen says:

  • Warner Bros. had no objection to working with him when he was in rehab, after he smashed up a hotel room and even when he was facing felony conviction. He says during that time they asked him reup his contract.
  • He was told that if he pleaded guilty in his domestic violence case it would not impact his role on Two and a Half Men.
  • He suffered years of humiliating and harassing comments by Lorre and that Sheen was wrongly blamed for the show's early cancellation this season.
  • He is willing to complete this season.
  • Lorre is the proverbial "800-pound gorilla" and has had problems in the past with other stars such as Roseanne Barr, Cybill Shepherd and Brett Butler.
  • As part of his pay-or-play contract, he is owed in excess of $100 million.

All told, Sheen cites nine causes of action, including intentional interference with contractual relations, breach of contract, violation of California Labor code and retaliation.

There has been no immediate comment from Warner Bros. or Lorre. However, Warners did send Sheen a long list of his alleged transgressions when the company fired him earlier this week. Previously, Warners said it would pay the crew for the missed episodes.

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(Originally published March 10, 2011, at 11:22 a.m. PT)