There are 20 million new interviews with Robert Downey Jr. this week. I feel like I’m kind of over it. I know, I know. I should shut up about it. RDJ is one of our few movie stars, he’s humble and gracious and he loves cats and babies and his redemption story is very powerful. But still… I’m a little bit over it this week. He’s just been too in-our-faces. Plus, I don’t even think The Judge looks that good. I’m probably wrong. It will probably be some huge hit for him. God bless.
First up, RDJ did a Howard Stern interview and Stern asked Robert about his past relationship with Sarah Jessica Parker. They were together when they were much younger, and they were together for seven years. It’s believed that they split because SJP didn’t want to be with an addict. RDJ said, in part:
“I’ve never been the kind of person to acknowledge what’s going on with me at the time, and I’d try to make light of it, but sure, when you’re with someone for seven years, 18 to our mid-20s, it’s kind of a big deal. I’ll make a point of trying to see her while I’m here. I’d like to. I’ll ask [Matthew Broderick’s] permission. I just want to check in for a few minutes. I love Matthew Broderick.”
I know he was being cutesy, but it bugs me that RDJ says he would get Broderick’s “permission” to speak to SJP. Dude.
RDJ also did the Reddit AMA yesterday, which you can read here. Some of my favorite quotes:
Favorite memory of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: “It was entirely shot at night. We were pretty giddy most of the time. I saw it last week by chance, and had a flood of fond memories. On the first day of shooting, Val Kilmer (genius) almost choked to death on a piece of catering chicken right before we shot the first scene of the movie. His eyes were still watering until we got to his close up. I’m so happy he’s still with us.”
On Benedict Cumberbatch, BBC Sherlock: “Very impressed with Benedict. Such smart writing on that show. I have screen envy.”
Whether he’s a cat or dog person: “So far, cats. But we’ve had some great dogs over the years.”
Fan encounters: “I love running into kids who didn’t expect to see me. I once ran into a four year old who just happened to be wearing a Captain America mask at the time. It seemed natural to him, being that he was Cap, to see some of his friends around. I think I was more excited than him. For the most part, autograph collectors are pretty cool, and when they’re weird, you just try to forget them.
Why prison made him more conservative politically: “Over the last 10 years, the world has changed, and I’m no exception. What I love about America is that your political views are not fixed by nature. It’s natural that I would see the downside of liberalism while housed in an institution, as it’s not an uncommon occurrence for people to take advantage of a system that caters to its psychological needs. To be pointed, humanity (myself included) is not above manipulating a democratic situation to suit its own selfish short-term goals. I hope that offers an explanation.
His answer about his politics is such a non-answer. He doesn’t directly confirm or deny anything about his political views nowadays. And Val Kilmer is a genius?!! And yes, he should be envious of the BBC Sherlock!
And finally, RDJ keeps talking about a possible Iron Man 4. My takeaway is that he’s up for a fourth one and he’ll probably work closely with Marvel to get it done.
Photos courtesy of Reddit, WENN.
I love him.
I don’t think he meant it to be chauvinistic. I believe he is trying to be as respectful as possible to her marriage after saying he’d like to reach out to her, I think he did that because people can mistake that for him trying to reconnect romantically…not that she’s MB’s property. He only said good things about both of them.
Exactly. I thought it was quite sweet and he was saying he respects her family. Nothing wrong with that.
+1
Agree and agree.
+1. Also, maybe more like “hey Im in town and am going to reach out to Sarah, just fyi, hope thats cool kthnx”…?
+2
Some spouses don’t like their significant others to reconnect with an ex. So I can see why he would ask. Some people really do mind! SJP and RDJ were together for years! I remembered feeling sad when I heard they broke up. This was before his drug thing was common knowledge.
I mean I know everyone loves him and I give him props for turning around his life but IMO he comes off as a bit of a jerk. His comment that he’ll only do Iron Man 4 if Mel Gibson can direct then his comment about asking Broderick’s permission. Seriously if it were anyone else he’d be thrown to the sharks. I haven’t paid to see one of his movies since the Piano Lesson while he is talented I think he’s so arrogant that he hasn’t really given a deep performance in ages he absolutely believes his own press and The Judge looks bad.
I go back and forth on the jerk/not jerk too. I wonder if he’s just bought in to his own public persona too much. His sassy, smart Alex routine is a bit much sometimes. He seems defensive sometimes too.
The comment about Mel Gibson was a joke he stated that on the AMA yesterday too
Yeah I got that it was sarcastic it still gives me jerk vibes though.
I think that people perceive really smart actors who can be sarcastic and snarky every now and then to be jerks.
I honestly think that the smarter you are, the more you carry an “air” of like, being a little better than everyone, but coming off that way doesn’t make you a jerk. Slightly arrogant? Yes. But it doesn’t make you a jerk or a bad person.
RDJ strikes me as a pretty cool guy who’s been through a lot in his lifetime, and perhaps he cracks jokes or say things to make light of it. I think that sometimes people misinterpret some of the things that he says and takes them to heart when really, they should just chill.
He likes Mel because Mel took a hit for him by paying his insurance on a film so RDJ could actually be hired, back when his insurance was Lindsay Lohan levels of expensive. I get why RDJ’s grateful to him. And Mel’s probably perfectly nice to his friends (ones who aren’t women or Jewish, anyway).
I love how he spoke about the four-year-old in the Capt. America mask. Bob “gets” his own appeal with kids. I wonder how Indio is doing?
SJP is obviously a strong independent woman, i think he meant just out of respect that she is a married woman.
I agree with you and UTX. “Permission” may not have been the best choice of word, but I think he only meant to respect them both.
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of RDJ.
exactly. i agree
I agree, too. I didn’t read it as flip or disrespectful. More than he’s offering an olive branch.
He should ask for his wife’s permission to talk to SJP.
Why does he need talk her now? Weird.
Why not talk to her?
I think they were first serious loves. They lived together from like 19 to 25 or something and ended due to his drug addiction. Maybe he wants to make amends for his behavior? Regardless I can see why he’d like to touch base with her again. She was an important person in his life and there’s likely some unfinished business (as in he may want to apologize for his actions)
The more he talks, the less I love him.
+1. I have loved RDJ for years, but on this press tour he is really starting to irk me.
I’m very over him. I don’t dislike him – I just feel like he’s too overexposed (same thing that happened to me with Ben Stiller). Although I really dislike the comment about asking Matthew Broderick for permission – yuck. And while I’m a huge geek/Marvel movie fan, I am so sick of Ironman. No more Ironman movies (and, if we have to suffer through another one – or any other Ironman appearances – at least do me a favor and get rid of Goop).
God, I had such a crush on Val Kilmer in the high school. I think I skipped classes at least 7 times to see Willow.
I love cats too, we have two at home. We had a dog too but she died last Christmas at the old age of 17.
I’m not so bugged by “permission”. I take it more as a poor wording. But I won’t call on my ex just so either, because his wife will have a problem with it.
It’s a consideration for the current partner as I see it
I was never a Kilmer fan but he was fab in kiss kiss bang bang, as was RDJ
always loved RDJ, but now he stars to sound way too much phony and establishment. I loved the way he used to give a damn about all the HW game, now…now he’s just another piece of the game
I’ve always been kinda ‘meh’ on him – never really got the hype – but knowing he’s a cat person definitely bumps him up a few notches.
I like RDJ he’s one of those people you only see a lot of during press time. Otherwise he’s pretty much out of the spotlight posting funny things on social media.
The SJP thing I took as a respect for her marriage. They were together for a longgggg time and if he never made amends maybe that’s why he wants to briefly chat with her.
The AMA was quite funny. His answers were witty and sometimes serious. He talked about his family, projects he wants to do (movies, producing, music) and then just general hilarious random comments. He’s quite refreshing to me personally
I’m so over him. I feel about him the way people do about JLaw, too overexposed.
I feel like I’m the only woman in the world who doesn’t like him.I just don’t like his -oh look at me I’m so cool- attitube.
He’s so imperfectly perfect. ❤️
Please no Iron Man 4, they are ruining that franchise.