Macaulay Culkin is speaking out about the drug addiction rumors that have shadowed him for years.

In a rare interview, the former child star tells The Guardian that the public was “not necessarily” right to worry about him after photos revealing his shockingly gaunt figure sparked talk of a heroin addiction in 2012.

WATCH: Macaulay Culkin Says He's 'Essentially Retired'

“No, I was not pounding six grand of heroin every month or whatever,” says the 35-year-old actor. “The thing that bugged me was tabloids wrapping it all in this weird guise of concern. No, you’re trying to shift papers.”

Asked if there was a bigger story that he may want to tell one day, Culkin responds, “Perhaps.”

The Home Alonestar also opens up about being a paparazzi target and the effect that photographers have had on his love life.

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“The other day … I’d crossed the wrong street, picked up a tail, suddenly there’s a crush of 20 paparazzi,” he says. “Then people with camera phones get involved. I don’t think I’m worthy of that.”

“It’s been like that my whole adult life,” Culkin adds. “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.”

Culkin says he believes photographers go after him because he doesn’t “whore” himself out, and indicates that his approach to his career is the same. While he appears in a new commercial for Compare the Market, he insists he has no qualms about not having further acting projects lined up.

“People feel they have to be in perpetual motion, or drown. I’ve never had a problem saying I’ve got nothing lined up," he shares. "Maybe I’ll take the next year off. I’m not much active. If I knew what I wanted to do, I’d be writing it myself.”

WATCH: Macaulay Culkin Reprises His ‘Home Alone’ Role in the Saddest Possible Way

In the meantime, Culkin, who now spends most of his time in France, plans to enjoy the rest of the summer being a roadie for Har Mar Superstar and Green.

“I’m a big fan of jumping on people’s tour buses, making myself useful, doing load-ins and outs,” he reveals. “I do everything except the merch table. I tried that, but ... we didn’t sell anything.”

See Culkin talking about being “essentially retired” in the video below.