Macaulay Culkin rubbishes stories of heroin addiction

Former child star Macaulay Culkin has laughed off stories that he struggled with heroin and pain killers addiction in 2012 , saying paparazzi was just using him to sell stories.

There were persistent tabloid rumours that '

Home Alone

' star was on drugs after a gaunt public appearance.


The tabloids speculated that he was not doing well following his split from girlfriend Mila Kunis in 2010 but the actor, who opened up in a rare interview, said it was "not necessarily" true.

"Of course, when silly stuff is going on - but no, I was not pounding six grand of heroin every month or whatever. The thing that bugged me was tabloids wrapping it all in this weird guise of concern. No, you're trying to shift papers," Culkin told The Guardian in an interview.

Asked if he might want to tell a fuller story someday, Culkin, who wrote an experimental novel 'Junion' in 2006, said, "Perhaps."

The actor, who started acting at the age of four and retired from spotlight when he 15, spends his time by playing with his band, The Pizza Underground and taking up small gigs.

Culkin had a difficult childhood. He was estranged to both his parents by the time he was 14 and had them blocked from using his fortune. He married at 17 and separated two years later. He was also close friends with Michael Jackson and was called as a defence witness at the singer's molestation trial.

The reclusive star says he does not understand why people are still interested in him.

"I have no idea. I was thinking about this the other day - I'd crossed the wrong street, picked up a tail, suddenly there's a crush of 20 paparazzi. Then people with cameraphones get involved. I don't think I'm worthy of that.

"It's been like that my whole adult life. You take on a prey-like attitude, always scanning the horizon. It's strange on dates, as it looks like you're not paying attention. But I've stopped trying to think of myself in the third person, because that's just gonna drive me nuts."

When asked whether he has turned his back on the spotlight, the 35-year-old said, "I don't just turn my back, I actively don't want it. The paps go after me because I don't whore myself out."

Culkin mostly lives in France to avoid being followed by photographers.

"Home is where my boots are. I'm a big fan of jumping on people's tourbuses, making myself useful, doing load-ins and outs. I do everything except the merch table. I tried that, but ... We didn't sell anything."

And the money that he earned as a child has given him the freedom to do just that.

"It's allowed me to become the person I am, and I like me, so I wouldn't change a thing. Not having to do anything for my dinner, financially, lets me treat every gig like it's the last.