Joaquin Phoenix continues hoax on Letterman

by Eric Melin on February 12, 2009

What’s the point?

I called it without ever having seen any video of him rapping, but it’s pretty clear that Joaquin Phoenix’s self-imposed retirement from acting to pursue a career as a rapper is a hoax. As soon as the news broke that his brother-in-law Casey Affleck would be directing a documentary about his decision, it was pretty obvious that some “Borat”-style shenanigans were going on. Ironically, to prove my point in my original blog, I posted a video from “Late Night with David Letterman” of Andy Kaufman’s similar wrestling hoax (in which he conspired with real-life wrestler Jerry Lawler).

Well, 20-some-odd years later, here’s Phoenix, ostensibly promoting his newest (and supposedly last) film “Two Lovers” on Letterman last night:

[youtube Y1xK6xz8d9Q nolink]

It’s pretty obvious Dave knows something is up. This kind of stunt is nothing new. What’s weird is that Phoenix doesn’t have anything remotely funny to say about it. What’s the point of his satire? It doesn’t necessarily count as satire without one. Here’s his Vegas rap performances:

[youtube 7F_Ikksg40U nolink]

…falling off the stage…

[youtube zrclRelKUno nolink]

…and rapping poorly.

[youtube NWMF1uC1LUU nolink]

Eric Melin

Eric is the Editor-in-Chief of Scene-Stealers.com, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and contributor for The Pitch. He’s former President of the KCFCC, and drummer for The Dead Girls, Ultimate Fakebook, and Truck Stop Love . He is also the 2013 Air Guitar World Champion Mean Melin, ranked 4th best of all-time. Eric goes to 11. Follow him at:

{ 6 comments }

1 Joe February 15, 2009 at 4:19 am: it’s hard to tell whether Joaquin Phoenix was faking it or not during that Letterman appearance, especially since he’s such a talented actor…
2 Joe February 15, 2009 at 4:19 am: it’s hard to tell whether Joaquin Phoenix was faking it or not during that Letterman appearance, especially since he’s such a talented actor…
3 Stefan Henriksson February 16, 2009 at 2:39 pm: I would like to agree with Eric that this might be an act or hoax of some kind. Maybe Phoenix lost it somewhere when his better friend Heath Ledger died and brought back bad memories from his brother’s death. Hard to say but I clearly feel that Joaquin is out of control in what he is doing and someone…

…or somebody should go in and help him, I mean where’s an oscar winning Reese Witherspoon that helped him in ‘Walk The Line’.

…or this is just an act to help Casey Affleck sell his documentary and a secret plan to fool everyone. But that’s rather unlikely.
4 Stefan Henriksson February 16, 2009 at 2:39 pm: I would like to agree with Eric that this might be an act or hoax of some kind. Maybe Phoenix lost it somewhere when his better friend Heath Ledger died and brought back bad memories from his brother’s death. Hard to say but I clearly feel that Joaquin is out of control in what he is doing and someone…

…or somebody should go in and help him, I mean where’s an oscar winning Reese Witherspoon that helped him in ‘Walk The Line’.

…or this is just an act to help Casey Affleck sell his documentary and a secret plan to fool everyone. But that’s rather unlikely.
5 Reed February 17, 2009 at 2:58 pm: I don’t think it’s a hoax. But hoax or not, the man is totally bonkers. I know people who’ve been with him off-camera, and this whole “being totally insane” thing is not an act.
6 Reed February 17, 2009 at 2:58 pm: I don’t think it’s a hoax. But hoax or not, the man is totally bonkers. I know people who’ve been with him off-camera, and this whole “being totally insane” thing is not an act.