Joaquin Phoenix has finally opened up about his infamous 2009 interview with David Letterman, calling it “horrible” and “one of the worst nights of my life.” The actor recently appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and reflected on the awkward moment, which left many viewers thinking he was having a mental breakdown.
The interview was part of a promotional stunt for his mockumentary I’m Still Here, where Phoenix played a fictional version of himself quitting acting to become a rapper. At the time, he showed up with a shaggy beard, sunglasses, and gave short, strange answers that confused Letterman and the audience.
Why Joaquin Phoenix Acted So Strangely on Letterman’s Show
Phoenix explained that he was fully in character during the interview to promote I’m Still Here, a fake documentary directed by Casey Affleck. The film followed his fake retirement from acting and his attempt to start a rap career.
“When I came on this show with Dave, I originally did the pre-interview in character and I realized that it was just a little silly,” Phoenix told Colbert. “So I called them back and I said, ‘Listen, this is what I’m doing. I’m coming out here and I’m doing this whole thing. And I just want Dave to like, lacerate me. I just want it to be really dangerous.’”
He wanted the interview to feel intense and unpredictable, but looking back, he regrets how uncomfortable it became.
The Public Thought Joaquin Phoenix Was Having a Mental Breakdown
During the 2009 interview, Phoenix wore sunglasses, chewed gum loudly, and gave vague answers. At one point, he even stuck his gum under Letterman’s desk. The host ended the segment by joking, “Joaquin, I’m sorry you couldn’t be here tonight.”
Many people believed Phoenix was struggling with real-life issues, especially since he stayed in character for months while promoting the film. The confusion grew when clips from the interview were used in I’m Still Here, blurring the line between reality and performance.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Apology to David Letterman
Phoenix first apologized to Letterman in 2010 when he returned to The Late Show.
“I hope I didn’t offend you in any way,” he said at the time. “You’ve interviewed many, many people and I assumed that you would know the difference between a character and a real person, but I apologize.”
Letterman wasn’t upset and even found the interview entertaining. In a 2017 talk with Howard Stern, Letterman revealed he knew Phoenix was acting.
“I knew what he was doing ahead of time,” Letterman said. “I did enjoy it because it was, you know, like getting your work in on the heavy bag. It was just easy. It was batting practice.”
Phoenix Calls the Interview a Success and a Failure
Despite the embarrassment, Phoenix admitted the stunt worked in some ways.
“It was strange because in some ways, it was a success, and it was also just one of the worst nights of my life,” he told Colbert. “It was so uncomfortable. I regret it, I’ll never do it again. I’m so sorry.”
Colbert, who watched the original interview live, called it “great TV.” Phoenix joked that the studio probably needed an “exorcism” after he left.
How Joaquin Phoenix Moved Past the Controversy
After I’m Still Here flopped, Phoenix returned to acting and won an Oscar for Joker. He is now promoting his new film Eddington, directed by Ari Aster. The movie premiered at Cannes and received strong reviews.
While the Letterman interview remains a cringe-worthy moment in late-night history, Phoenix has clearly moved on—even if he still feels guilty about it.
Also read: Todd Haynes Opens Up About Joaquin Phoenix’s Departure From Gay Romance Film
Credits: Sources include NY Post, Hollywood Reporter, IGN, Independent, Hindustan Times, NME, Variety, and Yahoo Entertainment.
