Actor Robert Downey Jr. has a message for today's internet influencers: Get off my lawn!In a recent appearance on Bran Ferren's "Conversations for Our Daughters" podcast, the 61-year-old star admitted this new crop of DIY entertainers seem like "hucksters" to him. 'I don't know what world you're living into, but I think that that is absolute horses**t.'Downey added that the proliferation of online personalities seeking celebrity without effort has made it harder for anyone with talent to stand out. Phoning it in"People can create celebrity without ever doing much besides rolling a phone on themselves," he said. "And I don't look at that as a negative thing. I just look at it as more like the challenge for individuation is being upped."The New York native also said that he hopes young people can resist falling into a "self-aggrandizing kind of influencer-type thing."Not that the "Iron Man" star dislikes all social media strivers. He revealed that he has even gotten to know a few and found them grounded and accomplished. Still, don't expect him to buy in to the idea that they're the stars of tomorrow. "When I hear people talk about, 'Oh, the stars of the future are going to be influencers,' I go, 'I don't know what world you're living into, but I think that that is absolute horses**t.'"RELATED: Iron MAGA? Comedian Chris D'Elia rants that in 'real life,' Marvel heroes would all vote GOP - YouTube Stream me upDowney noted that even his own teenage son has gotten "caught up" in the influencer world. "Next thing you know, it's like, 'Hey, if you like the way I'm playing this video game, do you wanna send me a donation?' And really, it becomes a religion.""There's something about the influencers today are almost like the Evangelical hucksters of the information age," he continued."At the same token, it's different because we’re playing in this new territory, and so it's a little bit of a frontier, and I don't really have a judgment on it."For his part, the veteran performer said he resists industry pressure to reveal more of himself online, saying it feels inauthentic.RELATED: Tech billionaire Palmer Luckey calls out homeschool haters' hypocrisy ]M. Tran/FilmMagic/Getty ImagesStark realityHe also worries about being reduced to disposable content for insatiable clickbait culture. "I don't wish to be consumed," he explained.The father of three also pondered the "turnover" from traditional media to online that many believe took place in the late 2000s."There's something about this ... there's something about that era that because we were just in it, and you know how it always feels like 2009 was ten years ago."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
‘Absolute horses**t’: No influencer envy for Robert Downey Jr.; star baffled by their new ‘religion’
Robert Downey Jr. expressed skepticism about internet influencers, comparing them to ‘hucksters’ and their pursuit of fame to a ‘religion,’ stating he believes it makes it harder for truly talented individuals to gain recognition. He worries about the proliferation of online personalities who gain celebrity without significant effort and resists industry pressure to overshare online himself, fearing being reduced to disposable content. Downey also reflected on the shift from traditional media to online platforms, noting the unique nature of the emerging digital frontier.
- Robert Downey Jr. views internet influencers as ‘hucksters’ and their pursuit of fame as a ‘religion.’
- He believes influencers make it harder for talented individuals to stand out.
- Downey resists pressure to overshare online, fearing being reduced to disposable content.
- He questions the idea that influencers will be the stars of the future.
- Downey’s own son has been drawn into the influencer world.
- He compares influencers to ‘Evangelical hucksters of the information age.’
- He reflects on the transition from traditional media to online platforms.
Looking for comments…
Searching Nostr relays. This may take a moment the first time this article is opened.
Looking for comments…
Searching Nostr relays. This may take a moment the first time this article is opened.