During a tense interview with a journalist, Michael Douglas denied rumors of past sexual misconduct and alleged sex addiction. The 82-year-old actor corrected the reporter about his relationships before marrying Catherine Zeta-Jones, asserting that he ended connections with other women at her request for monogamy. He also dismissed decades-old tabloid claims of rehab visits related to a sex addiction as fabricated by a British editor.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In a tense interview, Michael Douglas, aged 82, denied rumors of past sexual indiscretions and confronted a reporter who questioned his behavior. When asked how he "won back" actress Catherine Zeta-Jones after their brief 2013 breakup, Douglas corrected the phrasing to clarify it was a mutual decision based on monogamy. He dismissed suggestions that he had many sexual partners by asserting his actions were not about sex addiction but rather a reflection of his curiosity during the liberal '60s era. The Oscar winner expressed frustration specifically with British media for their preoccupation with sex-related issues, and his tone became accusatory as the interview progressed.
Written for “Michael Douglas Sex Addiction Interview” on 2026-10-05,
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The journalist subsequently pointed out that Douglas recalled needing to end things “with five women” before getting serious with now-wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, to which he replied, “No, no, it’s not what it was.”
asserted
it → point → which
Douglas continued, “What Catherine said is, if we’re going to continue this then I want it to be monogamous.
asserted
it → continue → this
And so I therefore, that evening, you know, made some calls to some people I was seeing,
asserted
I → know → people
The reporter noted, “In the following silence, his expression suggests that he thinks he’s just corrected me.”
uncertain
he → note → me
Douglas, 82, also denied sleeping “with so many women” in his life, saying in the Sunday interview that he doesn’t “see it that way.”
asserted
it → deny → interview
The Oscar winner added, “No, not me, no.
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winner → add → ?
My curiosity is why, of all countries, of all the press that I do, why are the Brits so consumed with the issues of sex?”
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Brits → do → sex
His tone, per the writer, was “accusatory and his eyes narrow” at this point during the sitdown.
The “Basic Instinct” star went on to address a decades-old rumor that he went to rehab for sex addiction in the ’90s, claiming the report “wasn’t true.”
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report → go → 90s
Douglas alleged, “A British tabloid editor came up with this story, which, thank you very much, here we are talking about at 82.
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we → allege → 82
It happens with the tabloids and, well, I won’t blame your country alone, but you’re probably better known for it than most.
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you → happen → most
According to the outlet, the Golden Globe winner writes in his book, out Tuesday, that he “was never a f–king sex addict.”
In the memoir, Douglas does, however, admit to the love affair with his “Romancing the Stone” co-star Kathleen Turner that the pair kept secret for 40 years.
uncertain
pair → accord → years
The Emmy winner referred to their love story on the 1984 set as a “magic spell” and more than a “fly-by-night affair” — and Turner, 72, dismissed all the “fuss” about the dalliance on Friday.
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Turner → refer → Friday
The duo’s rendezvous took place while Douglas was married but separated from first wife Diandra Luker, whom he divorced in 2000.
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he → take → 2000
Douglas wed Zeta-Jones, 57, later that same year, and the “Kominsky Method” alum reflected on their brief 2013 breakup in Sunday’s interview.
When asked how he “won her back” at the time, Douglas took issue with the phrasing before replying, “It was a mutual …
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It → we → phrasing
You know, we had our problems but I love her dearly and, 25 years, you know.”
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you → know → her
Allegedly narrowing his eyes again, Douglas told the reporter, “I mean, I don’t know about your marital status, but marriage is a lot of work, you know.
uncertain
you → narrow → work
And so, you know, we’re good.
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we → know → ?
We’re in good shape.
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We → ’re → shape
It’s all I can say.”
Douglas’ rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
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voice → ’ → comment
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Discussions → moderate → civility
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