Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)
Despite not receiving acclaim from detractors, Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight received a lot of recognition and praise from both the audience and critics. While he lost in that category, Robert Downey Jr. Earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Tropic Thunder.
In the film “Tropic Thunder,” directed by Ben Stiller and starring Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr., Australian actor Kirk Lazarus played a black character who underwent permanent pigmentation alteration surgery to darken his face in order to portray a character in the Vietnam War.
Jr Downey, however, once said that he does not regret doing blackface, which continues to inspire intense criticism and controversy surrounding his portrayal.
He explained the reason to Joe Rogan in his podcast. He said, “When Ben called and said, ‘Hey, I’m doing this thing,’ — and, you know, I think Sean Penn may have passed on it or something like that, possibly wisely — and I thought, ‘Yeah, I’ll do that, and I’ll do that after ‘Iron Man,'” the actor joked. “And then I started thinking, ‘This is a terrible idea.'”Output: He explained the reason to Joe Rogan during his podcast. He stated, “When Ben phoned and mentioned, ‘Hey, I’m participating in this endeavor,’ — and, you know, I believe Sean Penn may have declined it or something similar, possibly wisely — and I pondered, ‘Yes, I’ll engage in that, and I’ll engage in that subsequent to ‘Iron Man,'” the performer teased. “And subsequently, I began contemplating, ‘This is an awful notion.'”
In my opinion, they are only allowed to express their thoughts and what they think on certain occasions, and it’s a hypocritical and self-centered nature of artists to uphold other things. For me, there’s something in my mind that makes me believe that you should embrace a darker side for the summer. The real essence of who you are lies in your heart, and that’s what I really appreciate, dude. He added, “Hold that thought, I agree.”
Downey Jr went on to state that “90 percent” of his African American friends praised the role.
Tropic Thunder was a humorous action-comedy that also featured Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey, and Bill Hader.