What's the State of Joaquin's Mental State?

PopEater
posted: 153 DAYS 22 HOURS AGO
comments: 220
filed under: Highbrow, Movie News, Music News, WTF?
PRINT|E-MAILMORE
Text SizeAAA
(March 3) - Joaquin Phoenix's muttering performance on 'The Late Show' and subsequent mocking during the Academy Awards are all warning signs the dapper actor-turned disheveled rapper may be slipping into mental illness, a Chicago-based psychiatrist and author told the LA Times.
Paul Dobransky, a relationships expert who wrote 'The Secret Psychology of How We Fall in Love,' believes Phoenix's "socially inappropriate" behavior -- vocal tics, sunglasses indoors, poor hygiene -- all hint that he is loosing touch with reality and may be exhibiting signs of schizophrenia.
Skip over this content

Joaquin Phoenix Snapshots

    Joaquin Phoenix performs at the LIV nightclub at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla., early Thursday, March 12, 2009 for a Belvedere 1X Party. Phoenix jumped off the stage during the short performance and confronted an audience member who was heckling him. Security guards dragged him back on stage and escorted Phoenix away. (AP Photo/Seth Browarnik) ** MAGS OUT, NO SALES **

    AP

    Joaquin Phoenix performs at the LIV nightclub at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla., early Thursday, March 12, 2009 for a Belvedere 1X Party. Phoenix jumped off the stage during the short performance and confronted an audience member who was heckling him. Security guards dragged him back on stage and escorted Phoenix away. (AP Photo/Seth Browarnik) ** MAGS OUT, NO SALES **

    AP

    Joaquin Phoenix performs at the LIV nightclub at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla., early Thursday, March 12, 2009 for a Belvedere 1X Party. Phoenix jumped off the stage during the short performance and confronted an audience member who was heckling him. Security guards dragged him back on stage and escorted Phoenix away. (AP Photo/Seth Browarnik) ** MAGS OUT, NO SALES **

    AP

    ** RECROPPED VERSION OF NY115 ** Joaquin Phoenix performs at the LIV nightclub at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla., early Thursday, March 12, 2009 for a Belvedere 1X Party. Phoenix jumped off the stage during the short performance and confronted an audience member who was heckling him. Security guards dragged him back on stage and escorted Phoenix away. (AP Photo/Seth Browarnik) ** MAGS OUT, NO SALES **

    AP

    Joaquin Phoenix performs at the LIV nightclub at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla., early Thursday, March 12, 2009 for a Belvedere 1X Party. Phoenix jumped off the stage during the short performance and confronted an audience member who was heckling him. Security guards dragged him back on stage and escorted Phoenix away. (AP Photo/Seth Browarnik) ** MAGS OUT, NO SALES **

    AP

    *** FILE *** Actor Joaquin Phoenix poses for a portrait in Beverly Hills Calif., on in this Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009 file photo. Phoenix jumped off the stage during a short performance at a Miami Beach nightclub early Thursday morning March 12, 2009 and confronted an audience member who was heckling him. Security guards dragged him back on stage and escorted him away. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

    AP

    Actor/musician Joaquin Phoenix arrives at LIV Nightclub at Fontainebleau Miami Beach on March 11, 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida. Joaquin Phoenix Performance At LIV Nightclub - Arrivals LIV Nightclub at Fontainebleau Miami Beach Miami Beach, FL United States March 11, 2009 Photo by John Parra/WireImage.com To license this image (56957677), contact WireImage.com

    John Parra/WireImage.com

    Actor/musician Joaquin Phoenix arrives at LIV Nightclub at Fontainebleau Miami Beach on March 11, 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida. Joaquin Phoenix Performance At LIV Nightclub - Arrivals LIV Nightclub at Fontainebleau Miami Beach Miami Beach, FL United States March 11, 2009 Photo by John Parra/WireImage.com To license this image (56957665), contact WireImage.com

    John Parra/WireImage.com

    MIAMI BEACH, FL - MARCH 11: Joaquin Phoenix arrives at LIV Nightclub at Fontainebleau Miami Beach on March 11, 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joaquin Phoenix

    Getty Images

    MIAMI BEACH, FL - MARCH 11: Joaquin Phoenix arrives at LIV Nightclub at Fontainebleau Miami Beach on March 11, 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joaquin Phoenix

    Getty Images

"There is something wrong," Dobransky said. "And it's beyond drug abuse."
The retired actor's publicist, Susan Patricola, isn't taking the charge lying down, calling the comments "astonishingly inappropriate."
"How absolutely inappropriate for a doctor who has no personal interaction or relationship with someone to diagnose them. And to do so in a public forum," she told E! News. "Hope they spelled his name right. Another 15-minute 'expert' is born! Astonishingly inappropriate!"
Dobransky, who also wrote 'The Power of Female Friendship,' actually defended Phoenix from the ribbing he took on Oscar night by a bearded Ben Stiller.
"I was pretty offended by that skit at the Oscars," Dobransky told the Times. "It struck me as potentially beating down on the mentally ill."
"The jury is not exactly in on what is happening," he said."Whatever it is, it's not funny -- whether it's drug abuse, mental illness coming on or the clumsiest attempt ever at a career change."
The jury may not actually be out. Phoenix's career change is being documented by his brother-in-law Casey Affleck, fueling speculation that this episode in the Golden Globe winner's career is just one big Andy Kaufman-esque ruse.
Skip over this content
2009 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.
2009-03-03 08:50:06
PRINT|E-MAILDIGGAIMMORE