About 18 months ago, Joaquin Phoenix appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman disheveled, bearded and completely out of it. Phoenix mumbled on how he wanted to become a rapper somewhere between sticking his gum underneath Letterman’s desk and saying he quit acting. The video became a Youtube sensation, but there was plenty of debate over whether we were watching the fall of one of Hollywood’s best actors, or watching one of Hollywood’s best actors try to pull the wool over our eyes. Meanwhile, Phoenix’s brother-in-law Casey Affleck was filming the whole thing.
A year and a half later, I’m Still Here comes out to some bitter and unflattering reviews. Some critics were just unhappy they were fooled, while others claimed to know it all along, but simply didn't care. Either way, director Affleck has admitted that Phoenix’s rapping career being a hoax for this movie. Next, it was Phoenix’s turn to come clean, and he did so where it all began: The Late Show.
Check out the video below as Letterman very clearly admits to not having any previous knowledge of the stunt, the host even jabbing in a few jokes hinting that he feels like he was lied to.
Here is the apologetic Phoenix on the Late Show:
Here is the first time he appeared on Letterman:
So, how do you feel about all this? Do you feel like it was an interesting experiment, and an enlightening documentary, or do you feel lied to? Sound off in the comments!
This article appears in Sep 23-29, 2010.