Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen has spoken openly for the first time about his past sexual experiences with men. The star described the confession as “freeing” after years of silence and living under the threat of blackmail.

In his soon-to-be-released memoir The Book of Sheen and Netflix documentary aka Charlie Sheen, the 60-year-old actor said he wanted to try something different after only being with women for years.

“It feels so freeing … just being able to talk about it,” Sheen shared in the documentary. “The world didn’t collapse, nothing crazy happened, and I can finally breathe.”

The Two and a Half Men star revealed that his encounters with men began during his drug days. “It all started when I began smoking crack,” he admitted. “Some of it was strange, but a lot of it was fun. Life just moved on.”

Sheen also disclosed that he kept his experiences hidden because he was blackmailed for years. “I was constantly being extorted,” he told Good Morning America. “I kept paying to keep things quiet, but it made me feel like a hostage.”

The actor, who went public with his HIV diagnosis in 2015, said he contracted the virus during that troubled period of his life.

He remembered how people who visited his home would secretly take photos of his medication and use it against him. “I gave in at first, but later I decided to speak up myself,” Sheen explained.

Sheen made it clear that he never passed HIV to any of his partners. “I know for sure that I never infected anyone,” he said.

Now sober since 2017, the actor said he is focused on making peace with his past. “I’m not hiding anymore. I won’t let my history control me,” he said. “It takes two to tango.”

His memoir The Book of Sheen will hit shelves on September 9, followed by his Netflix documentary aka Charlie Sheen on September 10.