A 1988 sex tape involving Rob Lowe and an underage teenage girl brought in a lot of negative press for the actor after portions of the grainy footage aired on several news shows. Years later, Lowe reflects on the incident and how drinking and partying influenced him into making bad decisions.

ABC News reports that Lowe, 51, recently opened up about the scandal which nearly ruined his career. Although the West Wing actor never faced criminal charges, the sex tape, made in a hotel room with Lowe and two females, one of which was only 16 years old, made its way throughout the world.

Lowe remembers that during the late ’80s, his intentions were partying and hooking up with beautiful women, not knowing that it would come back to haunt him. He said that he was lucky in that, although he lost a few major movie roles, he was still able to work in the entertainment industry.

“I’ve been fortunate that I’ve always, always, always worked. Even after the sex tape was made public, it was like: You’re still a professional baseball player, but you’re playing for Double or Triple A. I lost the role in Titanic that Billy Zane got. But I was never banned from the game.”

Lowe credits his friends during the time, including actress Jodie Foster and producer Don Simpson, for helping him remain in the acting game. They supported him during one of the lowest points in his life.

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 18: Actor Rob Lowe and director Jodie Foster attends a Hollywood Reporter party honoring Jodie Foster presented by vitaminwater during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Majestic Beach Pier on May 18, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

“Jodie and I had done The Hotel New Hampshire together, and she sent me a note with a recurring line from John Irving: ‘Keep passing the open windows.’ She was saying, ‘You’ll get through it.’ Don basically said, ‘F— ’em if they can’t take a joke.'”

Regardless, the sex tape, filmed after he attended the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, resulted in a hefty lawsuit settlement with the underage girl’s parents and 20 hours of community service. He was also required to speak at halfway houses and prisons in his hometown, Dayton, Ohio.

Although he candidly spoke out on the scandal, Lowe has put the ordeal firmly where it belongs: in the past. Meanwhile, he continues his career not only as an actor, but an author as well. His 2011 autobiography, Stories I Only Tell My Friends, was so successful that he wrote a follow-up book in 2014, entitled, Love Life, a best-selling book that provides a glimpse into the actor’s troubles with addiction, sex, love, his career, and his family.

Meanwhile, Rob Lowe is gearing up for the September 29 premiere of his new FOX show, The Grinder, co-starring Fred Savage. Lowe, an executive producer of the show, plays Dean Sanderson, an actor who moves back to his hometown to help run his family’s law firm.

[Photos Courtesy of, Michael Buckner/Getty Images, Kevin Winter/Getty Images & Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images]