In a way, the fierce public resentment of Charlie Sheen is like slut shaming, something men are largely immune from. I guess his over-the-top self destruction made people believe he was fair game for Internet savaging. Something like a puritanical urge to shame.

It’s sad, though, that people feel so free to rip into him while they circle the wagons around powerful, abusive men who leverage their privilege to hurt people.

(Disclaimer: I once had a drink with Sheen and crew while they were filming Judgement in Berlin, a real disaster of a flick shot on location at the Air Force base where I was stationed. He was genuinely kind and super charming, and I’ve been a fan since. So I may be prejudiced!)