The sitcom, “Two and a Half Men” was one of my favorite sitcoms, which is why I know that it remains one of the most popular shows in America as well as the No. 1 comedy in the country. Despite beating his wife, despite holding a knife to her throat and threatening to kill her, there has been little career fallout for veteran actor Charlie Sheen, who has become somewhat of a serial domestic abuser. His police rap sheet for beating women is as thick as Aretha Franklin’s wasteline. Yet, Sheen has not been subjected to the cross-country crucifixion for the mortal threats towards his wife at a Colorado resort.
Meanwhile, Chris Brown’s career sunk to subterranean levels and crashed on the ocean floor. He was kicked so far down the hole after his beat down of Robyn Rihanna Fenty became public, that he needed a telescope to just see the surface of the earth. Sheen, however, continues to rake in the thick stacks from his show’s popularity.
Foolishly, Rochelle Riley, the columnist for the Detroit Free Press, says that Brown has yet to fully redeem himself, that he needs to make a public apology to all women. But she and many other media outlets have yet to take the cattle prods to the prostitute-patronizing, woman-whipping Sheen.
Something is wrong with this picture.
And lets not even mention Eldra DeBarge. Yes, the former superstar and lead singer for the group DeBarge was given a hero’s return when he reappeared out of obscurity to sing his hits from the 1980s at the BET Awards. But he had just emerged from jail for jarring the senses out of his woman not too long ago. Not so much as a peep went off about it. Probably because the woman on the other side of his swinging fists did not meet the definition of Western beauty like Rihanna.
All three men should have suffered equally for their transgressions. All did a lot more than just put their hands on women. They beat them and all went to jail. But only one person has seen his career hemorrhage out of control. Sheen, on the other hand, has had case after case of beating woman after woman. And yet he had the intestinal fortitude to ask for a raise on his show. Can you believe that?
Again I say, something is wrong with this picture. –terry shropshire
