Being a child actor is not an easy feat, as being exposed to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood has its own set of drawbacks. For Angus T. Jones as well, he got on board Two and a Half Men when he was just 10 years old. And he quite literally grew up in front of the viewers until his exit from the show in 2013. This move of his was apparently motivated by Charlie Sheen’s abrupt firing from the sitcom.
The actor had gone on a full-blown Chuck Lorre rant and was then ultimately shown the door. While this would surely be one of the most iconic feuds in the history of television, it also masked another issue that was going on behind the scenes with Jones.
The Real Reason Why Angus T. Jones Said Goodbye to Two and a Half Men
Charlie Sheen brought the entire Anti-Chuck Lorre saga out in the open when he started bashing the showrunner at every chance he got. This rift then continued for more than a decade until Chuck Lorre asked Sheen to play a fictionalized version of himself in his show Bookie. While this feud is now the talk of the past, another famous actor of the show faced several issues of his own during his stint in Two and a Half Men.
Further, the entire Sheen-Lorre controversy masked another controversy stirred up by Angus T. Jones. The actor got on the show when he was just 10 years old and played the role of Jake Harper. This role also made him one of the highest-paid child stars in the industry, but deep down, Jones was not happy with the direction that his character was taking on the show. Initially, his character was just like any other kid on the block.
But as the show progressed, Charlie’s influence on Jake became more visible, and he started to be meaner, lazier, and disrespectful. Jones also raised the same issue during a YouTube video and added via Slash Film, “You cannot be a true God-fearing person and be on a television show like that. I know I can’t.” Despite his reservations, the actor did complete the season, but slowly started to move away from the role.
For his comments against the series, the actor was heavily criticized, so much so that he had to apologize. He added:
That’s his like baby and I just totally insulted his baby and to that degree I am apologetic but otherwise I don’t regret saying what I said.
Despite all the fame and a huge pay cheque, the actor said goodbye to acting altogether and after the show, he has not done anything solid acting-wise. He revealed in an interview that happened in 2016 that he has enrolled himself at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Charlie Sheen Wanted to Leave Two and a Half Men Long Before His Falling Out With Chuck Lorre
Charlie Sheen was a big star even before he landed the iconic role of Charlie Harper on Two and a Half Men. Following this he was one of the highest-paid actors on television until his dramatic fall from grace during the sitcom’s eight season. Due to his addiction issues, the actor entered rehab, which brought the filming of the show to a halt.
While he was very much part of the show, his erratic behavior as well as bashing Chuck Lorre ultimately led to his firing. Interestingly, even before this controversy escalated in public, the actor had in the past considered leaving the show. During the sitcom’s seventh season, when contract negotiations were going on, he contemplated if it was time to leave the show.
But his manager and agent encouraged him to change his mind, so he continued his stint on the show. He added via Deadline:
I’m hearing no, no, no, man, there’s so many more stories to tell. Translation: money to be made for them.
I mean, sure, sure. It’s a lot of money. And I said, ‘I don’t know guys. My gut is screaming that if I go back, it’s going to go horribly wrong.’ I actually said that, and they were like, well, I can also go perfectly fabulous. I’m like, yeah, but that’s not the message I’m getting from my gut. So did I manifest that or did I just get a signal from the future? Maybe it was time. So, do you bow out? No! We cut the new deal and everybody was happy and then everything went horribly. Everything went horribly.
The actor continued playing Charlie on the sitcom, but just a season later, he caused a feud so big that caused issues not just for him but the entire crew. But all in all, Sheen as well as Lorre have moved on from their feud and now maintain a good camaraderie.
You can watch Two and a Half Men on Peacock.
