Joaquin Phoenix is not here to answer the same questions over and over, OK?!
The silver-fox actor won the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama on Sunday night at the 77th annual Golden Globes, getting the nod for his role in Joker. But when it came time to speak to the media after his acceptance, the film star wasn’t feeling it, and something was way off in the press room by the time he got there.
Related: Joaquin Hasn’t Spoken To ‘Former BFF’ Casey Affleck In ‘Many Years’
Upon entering, Phoenix was already a little upset, claiming he’d been “tricked” into the room by somebody who told him it was just for photos.
When one reporter asked about the process in preparing for his role in Joker, the 45-year-old went off, saying (below):
“Isn’t this old news? I think I’ve talked about this for six months. I mean, right? I feel like I answered these questions. You want to hear a different version of it? I can try to change it slightly, or what should I do? … It was a long process, and there’s so many things that I just can’t remember right now. But I feel like I already answered this question six months ago, but thanks for still asking.”
Yikes! Not a great start to the press conference…
A follow-up question came in about the possibility of a Joker sequel, which further set off the I’m Still Here star’s frustration.
It also prompted him to go off on a tangent about his career:
“What do you mean? [about the possibility of a sequel] Why? I don’t care who is saying that. That’s awesome and I love whoever says it. I don’t think that I’ve ever done too many predictable things. So if that came up, it’s not because we’re following some rule book, it’s because we feel inspired again to explore the character more thoroughly. That would be the only reason for me to do it. So that’s all I can say about that.”
…OK!
Not a bad answer by the end, but definitely still some tinges of frustration and exasperation here, too!
Everybody loves to talk about food, though!
Ironically the one thing that did make Phoenix light up during the media session was a question about the ceremony’s decision to offer an only plant-based menu to those in attendance.
Speaking positively about it, the You Were Never Really Here star said:
“It’s the first time I’ve ever eaten the food at this ceremony. I thought it was excellent. I was so moved by their decision to make tonight plant-based. It was such an important step. The SAG Awards and Critics Choice Awards and Governor’s Ball, whatever else there is, need to do it as well.”
From there, he went deeper into the entire idea of plant-based food, speaking the most he had all night and adding:
“I think we’re coming to a point now where the evidence is irrefutable and undeniable. I think it’s somewhat where we realized how poisonous tobacco was, and secondhand smoking. They made it illegal to smoke in public places. I think now consuming animal products is no longer just a personal choice. It is having a drastic and vast consequence on the rest of the world and all of us, and so I think it was incredibly brave and compassionate of HFPA to make that bold decision. I really commend them for that. I’ve never been so proud to attend an awards ceremony as I am tonight, and thank you so much for asking that question.”
Well then! That was a helpful quote and a polite conclusion! Quite different from the first few answers he gave…
BTW, you can watch his entire press room session here:
But what about that acceptance speech, though?!
The quirky actor wasn’t just stand-offish behind the scenes in the press room. Moments before speaking to the media, when he actually won the Globe for his role in Joker, he delivered a bizarre, halting, expletive-laden speech that drew a lot of social media reaction and confusion on its own.
You can watch that moment here, too:
Yeah… so, basically, the actor had quite a bizarre night both on-stage and back behind the scenes.
What can we say, though? It sure made for good television!
What did y’all think of all this press room drama, Perezcious readers?! And what of the plant-based menu at the ceremony itself — Phoenix even mentioned the food in his acceptance speech, so was it really that big of a deal??
Sound OFF with all your opinions about Joaquin Phoenix’s very strange night in the comments (below)…
[Image via Adriana M. Barraza/WENN]
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