The 1980s were weird. Hollywood was this shiny, neon-soaked playground where child stars were treated like mini-adults, often with zero guardrails. When you look back at the 1986 film Lucas, it’s remembered as a sweet coming-of-age story. But for decades, a darker narrative has bubbled under the surface involving Charlie Sheen and the late Corey Haim.
It’s a heavy topic. Honestly, it’s one of those Hollywood stories where the truth feels like it’s trapped between competing memories and shifting legal statements.
The Allegations That Shook the Industry
In late 2017, the National Enquirer dropped a report that turned the nostalgia for Lucas upside down. They cited Dominick Brascia—a former actor and friend of Haim—who claimed Haim told him about a sexual encounter with Charlie Sheen during the filming of the movie.
At the time, Haim was just 13. Sheen was 19.
The details were graphic. Brascia claimed Haim described the incident happening between trailers, even alleging the use of Crisco oil as a lubricant. According to this account, Haim felt rejected afterward because Sheen reportedly became "cold" and uninterested in any further interaction.
Then came 2020. Corey Feldman, Haim's closest friend and fellow "Corey," released his documentary My Truth: The Rape of 2 Coreys. He didn't just hint at things; he named names. He stood on a stage and told the world that Sheen had raped Haim.
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Feldman’s claims were backed by his ex-wife, Susie Feldman, and other friends like Jamison Newlander. They all said Haim had told them some version of this story before he passed away in 2010.
Charlie Sheen’s Defiant Stand
Sheen didn't stay quiet. Not even for a second.
His publicist fired back immediately, calling the allegations "sick, twisted and outlandish." In a statement that sounded very much like the "tiger blood" era Charlie we remember, he called himself a "noble and valiant courier of the truth" who had owned up to many mistakes, but not this.
"Every man has a breaking point," he said. "These radically groundless and unfounded allegations end now."
He actually sued the National Enquirer for defamation in December 2017. He claimed the editor, Dylan Howard, had a personal vendetta against him. While he eventually dropped the lawsuit about a year later, his stance has never wavered. To this day, he maintains that nothing happened.
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The Mother’s Disagreement
Here is where it gets really complicated. You’d think a mother would be the first to scream for justice, right? But Judy Haim, Corey’s mom, has been one of the most vocal critics of these specific claims against Sheen.
She went on The Dr. Oz Show and Entertainment Tonight to clear Sheen’s name. Her logic? She was with Corey in Chicago during the filming of Lucas. She lived with him. She claims she knew exactly where he was at all times.
"My son never mentioned Charlie," she told ET. "We never talked about Charlie. It was all made up."
She actually pointed the finger at someone else—Dominick Brascia himself—as the one who hurt her son. It’s a messy, tragic web of "he said, she said" where the victim isn't here to speak for himself. Haim’s sister, Cari, also weighed in, calling Feldman’s documentary "garbage" and "lies."
Cari even revealed she had a brief "teen romance" with Sheen herself around that time and felt the accusations were totally out of character.
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Why This Story Still Matters in 2026
We talk about Charlie Sheen and Corey Haim because it represents the "Old Hollywood" that many are trying to dismantle. Whether the specific allegations are true or not, the environment of the 1980s was objectively dangerous for kids.
Corey Haim’s life spiraled after his teen idol years. Drugs, poverty, and eventually his death from pneumonia at age 38. He often spoke about being "shipped off" to different sets where adults didn't always have his best interests at heart.
Different Perspectives on the Truth
- The Accusers: Feldman and Brascia claim Haim was a victim who was too scared to name his abuser publicly while alive.
- The Defense: Sheen and Haim’s own family insist the story was fabricated for headlines or by a "damaged" friend (Feldman).
- The Context: Hollywood in the 80s lacked the "intimacy coordinators" and strict child labor protections we see today.
What We Can Learn From This
Looking back at the Charlie Sheen and Corey Haim saga isn't just about tabloid gossip. It's about accountability.
If you're a fan of 80s cinema, it's hard to watch Lucas or The Lost Boys the same way. But the takeaway shouldn't be cynicism. Instead, it should be a drive toward protecting the next generation of performers.
If you want to understand the full scope of this era, here is what you can do:
- Watch the Documentaries with a Critical Eye: My Truth offers Feldman's perspective, but also look into the rebuttals from the Haim family.
- Support Child Actor Advocacy: Organizations like A Minor Consideration work to ensure child stars have financial and emotional safeguards.
- Recognize the Nuance: Understand that in cases of historic abuse, the "truth" is often buried under layers of trauma and legal threats.
The tragedy of Corey Haim isn't just one alleged incident; it's the story of a kid who felt he had to "take secrets to his grave." Whether Charlie Sheen was part of that secret or a victim of a false narrative remains one of Hollywood's most polarizing mysteries.