Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr., 54, has once again reiterated his support for his controversial role in the 2008 war comedy ‘Tropic Thunder‘. In the movie, Robert portrayed a character using blackface.
The actor, known for his candid discussions, delved into the topic on Rob Lowe’s ‘Literally!’ podcast. Addressing the negative reviews of the character, he drew parallels between the comedy and the 70s sitcom ‘All in the Family‘.
Robert Downey Jr. Defends ‘Tropic Thunder’ And ‘All In the Family’
Robert Downey Jr. engaged in a thoughtful conversation with old friend Rob Lowe about the societal shifts in humor and the portrayal of contentious issues in entertainment. He drew attention to the groundbreaking sitcom of its time ‘All in the Family’. He highlighted the deliberate choices the showmakers made to address race and social justice through humor.
Robert emphasized the significance of grasping the context and purpose of such creative actions. He noted that both ‘All in the Family‘ and ‘Tropic Thunder’ used humor to draw out the ridiculousness of prejudices and preconceptions.
The ‘Iron Man’ star brought up the original message preceding ‘All in the Family‘ reruns. The disclaimer hilariously exposed human frailties and prejudices to emphasize their absurdity.
It read, “The program you are about to see… seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns. By making them a source of laughter, we hope to show – in a mature fashion – just how absurd they are.”
Robert went on to translate it as well saying, “Hey, this is the reason that we’re doing these things that, in a vacuum, you could pick apart and say are wrong and bad.“
In Case You Missed: “I Would Be Doing Hard Time”: Robert Downey Jr. Jokes About Facing More Prison Time If It Wasn’t For Acting
‘Tropic Thunder’ Went Against Tropes
Addressing the controversy surrounding his 2008 movie ‘Tropic Thunder’, Downey Jr. defended the film’s spirit. Directed by Ben Stiller, the movie was intended as a critique of perpetuated stereotypes. According to him, the film attempted to confront and criticize obsolete film cliches that had survived for far too long.
The actor acknowledged the changing dynamics of audience understanding. He added that the spirit with which ‘Tropic Thunder‘ was created may be misunderstood in today’s cultural setting. He said, “There used to be an understanding with an audience, and I’m not saying that the audience is no longer understanding; I’m saying that things have gotten very muddied.”
The Critics Choice-winning actor underlined that the film was purposely made to examine and deconstruct tropes, rather than accept or perpetuate damaging stereotypes.
Downey Jr. previously addressed the use of blackface in ‘Tropic Thunder’ on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast in 2020. Despite his mother’s initial skepticism about the notion, he remained committed to the film’s goal of challenging toxic Hollywood habits. He recalled the memory, “‘Bobby, I’m telling ya, I have a bad feeling about this.’ I was like, ‘Yeah me too, Mom.’”
As Downey Jr. moves through questions about his roles, he remains firm about his creative decisions.
You Might Also Like To Read:
