Mayor distances himself from Sheen after homophobic rant

Kirsty Blake Knox – 07 January 2013 10:30 AM

WITH friends like this, who needs enemies?

This may be the be question that the Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, is asking himself today, after he had to deny a friendship with Charlie Sheen.

Sheen hit the headlines again over the weekend after using a series of homophobic slurs while on holiday in Mexico.

And although the mayor had nothing to do with Charlie's choice of words, he did happen to pose for a picture alongside the actor.

Now the snap has come back to haunt him -- and he's denying he even knows Sheen. The mayor went on NBC 4 LA to clarify that he is not best friends with the controversial actor.

The picture, which shows the two men arm-in-arm, was taken at the El Ganza hotel in Mexico, the same location where Sheen made homophobic comments.

The former Two and A Half Men star later apologised for the incident, saying: "I meant no ill will and intended to hurt no one."

hnews@herald.ie