Robert Downey Jr. Is an Actor, Not a Rehab Expert

By Jo Piazza Posted Nov 6th 2010 09:00AM

Poor Robert Downey Jr.

You do a few recreational drugs, get arrested, go to rehab, more than the average person in your twenties and thirties and suddenly you become the catch-all for bad behavior in Hollywood. Did someone beat up their wife, get caught with a hooker or expose themselves as a bigoted racist this week? Well Robert Downey Jr. must been able to put it in perspective right?

Wrong.

This week Meredith Viera and David Letterman asked Downey Jr., to shed some light on what was going on with Mel Gibson and Charlie Sheen, both while Robert was just trying to promote his buddy comedy 'Due Date' Doesn't it feel like Downey Jr., is former President of the bad boys club and must sanction all future adherents and their actions when making a television appearance?

Downey Jr. was rightfully pissy when Meredith asked about Mel.

And even we have to admit that Meredith's transition to Mel was weak when said, "This is a movie about second chances," (Not really) and began questioning Downey Jr., about his own second chance where Mel Gibson helped him get work after years of being unhireable. Downey Jr. just calls Mel a friend and a standup guy and says he always has been. But he was obviously peeved. How can we tell? He took off his sunglasses.

It's just lame to beat the dead horses of Mel and Charlie with Downey Jr. The truth is that Downey Jr. was a bad boy of an entirely different flavor than Gibson and Sheen. Yes, he was self-destructive, but not really violent or even terribly offensive. What is terribly offensive is continuing to plague this now very accomplished (and sober) actor with questions about manchild jerks. Downey Jr., committed most of his mortal sins as a young adult (at least he was under 40). Sheen and Gibson continue to assault our sensibilities well into their middle ages.

Would it be alright to ask Robert Downey Jr. about Lindsay Lohan? That would actually be preferable, since emerging a mess from child stardom is something the actor has some know-how about. The extreme antics of Mel Gibson and Charlie Sheen aren't really and never have really been Robert Downey Jr.'s bag.

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Comments

(27)

Saturday 06 November

By Lisa

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Thats very unFAIR!! for Meredith to try to bring him down while he is doing so well!! Keep up the great work Robert!! You are one of my favorite actors!!!

By badass

Ditto, i applaud him.

By BTDT

All else aside, Downey is ten times the actor that the rest of the people mentioned are.

By Edward R. Meek

Agree Lisa.....

I think we are tired of Meredith Viera being on every tv show....from being a judge in a court room to Who Wants to Be a Millionare host and tv interviewer.....enough of her! She isn't all that!

Robert Downey Jr. is a great actor who went through his share of personal problems, got help, resurrected and is one of the top actors in the business. Yes, it is all about second, and even, third chances in life! A model for success. When he was down, Mel was there for him and now that Mel is having his problems, Robert Downey Jr. is there for him. Bravo!

By Denise

Meredith sucks. You go, Robert!

By Ellie

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Considering how far out on a limb professionally and financially Mel Gibson went for Downey when NOBODY would hire him I think Downey ought to take every opportunity - even a clumsy one from this interviewer - to stand up for Gibson. Especially since the Due Date director is also the director of Hangover II that fired Gibson but has no problem working on these films with either Mike Tyson OR Charlie Sheen.

By Glynspsa

Just for the record the director claims he did not fire Gibson.

Tuesday 09 November

By ann

I'd have to agree with the article... I love David Letterman..and though I felt he was tastful in the way he questioned Robert about Mel or Charlie, I felt it was inappropriate and disrespectful. Robert handled it well but I wouldn't blame him to be disappointed . I didn't see the Meredith quetioning but it sounds like it wasn't even as tasteful as David's which to me seems to call for an apology to him. He is well established and well respected at this point in his life and should not have to be put into the same catagory as abusers who are incapable of the personal triumphs and trials he overcame. Theres no one out there calling him an abuser so why would they question him like he's an authority on abusers?

By Barbara

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This article is not about Letterman!

By Mike

RDJ is a friend to Mel Gibson as he should be, Mel Gibson fell into a trap with that woman and just did not know how to react to a gold digger, he has always been very emotional. Anyone of you have been in a relationship where the other party pushes your buttons and makes you crazy enough to say anything to hurt them, Mel Gibson is a great actor and the women that want to have kids with him or for that matter Charlie Sheen, which I also think is a great actor knows who they are getting, but see dollar signs instead of love.

By Diana

When actors have to do press junkets they know they are going to get asked about their personal lives and they deal with it, they don't like it but they do deal with it.

How ever asking RDJ about the personal lives of his peers is crap, he's not a doctor and he's not in on their personal lives. It's the reason people have lost respect for TV talk show hosts.. I refuse to call them journalists.

By Donna

I always thought Meredeth had more sense than that.
Shes a very rude lady.

By danny

Downey Jr. is a Hollywood star,he is a matter of public consumption. This is a part of that job. And considering his past,he should be more understanding that he is going to be asked such questions. Afterall,it is his fault that he is in such a position and he is damn lucky to have moved on to a bigger career than what he had before his problems.

By Juls

So, true-Why should he be excempt from any questions re addiction and rehab?? That is what he is, after all.....Which is not a crime but a disease . However, he should not be treated any better or worse than any other actor in the same boat.

By Jazz

Thank you!! Love this article! At last, someone gets it!

God forbid people would just stick to the movie on this press tour. That's what he's there for, not to chat celebrity scandals.

By slibby

As far as charlie sheen goes, if you make a million a week and can't have a bender with a pornstar once in awhile? The terrorists have already won.

By shirleyA

This reminds me of Katie "Cure-All" Couric, another one
I can't stand, when interviewing Billy Bob Thornton for
some movie I can't recall the name. She kept asking him
about Angleina Jolie and Brad Pitt, and he finally said
to her "Look, if you want to know anything about her, ask her.
If it wasn't that I have to promote this movie I wouldn't
be here at all"

By midcenturymama

I think he looks great. I would be pissed too if some idiot interviewer brought someone else's problems into the conversation.
Forget that fool, Robert, keep on looking and doing good.

Give me a break-Your article is pathetic. Robert Downey Jr. was not a "bad boy after 40"? How do you know what he will be like at 50? Acting immorally, at any age is wrong. Good Lord, Mel was O.K. at 40......An addict is an addict...age has nothing to do with the disease. reading your articles is like going back to the first grade.

hey-You want to play, you gotta pay. Get a grip.

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