National Enquirer Defends Macaulay Culkin Heroin Addiction Report, Challenges ‘Home Alone’ Actor To A Drug Test

The National Enquirer released the statement over the weekend to defend its original story detailing Culkin's heroin and drug addiction, even though his publicist said the report was false. The rep said the story entitled "Macaulay Culkin addicted to heroin: 6 months to live" was "not only categorically without merit, but it is also impossibly and ridiculously fictitious."

Editors for the tabloid, however, named the source of their original story, which said Culkin is "hooked on drugs," and even challenged the actor to a drug test in which it would make the results public.

The statement from the Enquirer read:

"The NATIONAL ENQUIRER hopes the cover story on its latest issue, "Home Alone' star Macaulay Culkin Addicted To Heroin - Only 6 Months To Live!" will act as a dramatic and much-needed wake-up call to the 31-year-old actor.

"Our advice to Macaulay is to seek professional help to avoid the same tragic fate of other beloved celebrities, including Whitney Houston who died earlier this year.

"We believe that the former child star should be doing everything he can to get the treatment he so desperately needs - and which could have saved the life of his friend Elijah Rosello.

"Her family confirmed to The ENQUIRER that she did drugs with Macaulay before her drug-related death in March.

"Should Macaulay's representatives continue to deny The ENQUIRER's accurate and detailed report, we are ready to offer him the opportunity to take a blood test administered by an independent medical lab.

"It is a fact that as The ENQUIRER tracked Whitney Houston's descent into her drug hell, she refused to admit she had a problem - and Whitney was represented by some of those people now denying Macaulay's potentially deadly problems.

"The ENQUIRER editors would hate to see Macaulay end up like Whitney."

"Hooked on Drugs"

The feud began when the National Enquirer reported that a source, then unnamed, told the tabloid about Culkin's addiction to heroin and prescription painkiller oxycodone, which led to the actor's gaunt figure in recent months.

"Macaulay Culkin is hooked on drugs, and it's killing him!" the source said. "He's been hooked for a year and a half, and his drug of choice is either heroin or oxycodone. Mac is surrounding himself with junkies and lowlifes. It's a real tragedy."

The source told the tabloid specific details of Culkin's supposed drug habit, adding her once overdosed, spends as much as $6,000 on drugs monthly and has turned his New York City apartment into a drug lair.

Culkin's rep Michelle Bega, however, denied the report calling it "ridiculously fictitious."

"The report in the National Enquirer that Macaulay Culkin is addicted to heroin and assorted hallucinogenics is not only categorically without merit, but it is also impossibly and ridiculously fictitious."

"We beseech the responsible media to consider the source and its reputation and to please not perpetuate this destructive and insulting story by pursuing it any further," the publicist said.

The latest statement from the Enquirer refers to Culkin's late friend, 24-year-old Elijah Rosello, who died in March of a heroin overdose, The Daily Mail reported. According to the Enquirer, Rosello and Culkin allegedly used heroin together, but it was never confirmed by Culkin, his rep or any sources other than the tabloid.

Culkin, most known for playing Kevin McCallister in the "Home Alone" series, was busted in 2004 for suspicion of marijuana in addition to two controlled substances: Alprazolam and Clonazepam. The actor pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drug charges. Interest in Culkin regarding the alleged drug habit piqued in February when Culkin was seen in photos on "Entertainment Tonight" looking "gaunt," prompting a statement from his rep.

"Macaulay Culkin is in perfectly good health," his publicist said in a February statement. "For Entertainment Tonight, or any other media outlet, to speculate otherwise is reckless, irresponsible and destructive. We implore them to discontinue the rumor."