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Downey takes heat for "black face" in hilarious, iconic role in Tropic Thunder


Robert Downey Jr. on ‘Tropic Thunder’ blackface: ‘90 percent of my black friends were like, “Dude, that was great” ’ source:(thewashingtonpost)

January 22, 2020

Allyson Chiu writes:

When Robert Downey Jr. first got the call about possibly starring in “Tropic Thunder,” the 2008 Hollywood parody helmed by actor-director Ben Stiller, the “Iron Man” lead was conflicted. Downey was slated to play the character of Kirk Lazarus, a five-time Oscar-winning Australian actor who undergoes “pigmentation alteration” surgery to portray a black soldier in the satirical film-within-a-film, and the job carried a major risk: wearing blackface makeup.

I thought: ‘Yeah, I’ll do that. I’ll do that after ‘Iron Man,’ ” Downey, 54, said during a recent appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, recalling his conversation with Stiller. “And then I started thinking, ‘This is a terrible idea.’ ”

Downey’s hesitation was brief.

“I thought: ‘Hold on, dude. Get real here. Where is your heart?’ ” he said earlier this month. “My heart is a) I get to be black for a summer in my mind, so there’s something in it for me. The other thing is I get to hold up to nature the insane, self-involved hypocrisy of artists and what they think they’re allowed to do on occasion.” 

“Tropic Thunder” received positive reviews for its scathing commentary on Hollywood, but also raised eyebrows with its blackface and drew criticism for its depiction of people with mental disabilities. The actor’s reflections on his decision to join the cast circulated widely Tuesday after IndieWire reported on the Jan. 15 podcast segment. By early Wednesday, the roughly 11-minute clip had been watched nearly 4.5 million times and garnered thousands of comments as fans praised Downey’s performance, which earned him an Oscar nomination in 2009.

“Ninety percent of my black friends were like, ‘Dude, that was great,’ ” Downey said.


What do you think... did Downey go too far? 

Personally, I loved the entire  movie so much; every single moment. It's one of the funniest films I've ever seen! Including the comedy intended by Robert Downey Jr.'s black face character Hot LZ (Kirk Lazarus).

This all-super-star cast film is a must-see regardless of political correctness of the moment.

This film is timeless and particularly working in the film industry, I love the filmmaking-related satire. The very best!!!

With writers Justin Theroux, Ben Stiller and Etan Cohen plus all star cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Jay Baruchel, Ben Stiller, Steve Coogan, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Jason Bateman, and many more, it is simply IMPOSSIBLE to not LOVE THIS FILM!!








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