14 DAY TRIAL // Joaquin Phoenix is, without a doubt, one of the most talented actors of our generation, and the many awards and high praises he has got throughout his career speak volumes as to that. Nevertheless, when it comes to his recent switch to making rap music, there are still many questions left unanswered – and many others have just been added to the pile after his very awkward and extremely embarrassing appearance on David Letterman.
Phoenix is, as the fans know by now, undergoing a change of style, from his groomed public persona we once knew to what has come to be referred to as “homeless chic.” On Letterman to promote his recent movie, “Two Lovers,” the actor was inevitably faced with answering the question of why he grew a beard and whether it itched or not. And it is from here that things took the wrong direction, reports in the media have it.
Not only was the actor barely able to mumble a few words to Letterman’s many questions, but he made it clear from the start that the couch he was sitting on was the last place he wanted to be. “You look different than I remember you” and “What can you tell us about your days with the Unabomber?” are just two of the instances in which Letterman tried to get an answer from Joaquin, preferably in more than just one syllable.
“Fed-up Letterman eventually resorted to poking fun at scruffy Phoenix, who seemed set to walk out at one stage as he told the exasperated host: ‘OK, I don’t have to do this.’ Letterman joked towards the end of the interview: ‘Joaquin, I’m sorry you couldn’t be here tonight.’ And he mocked: ‘I'll come to your house and chew gum.’ Phoenix, who responded to the jibe by taking out his gum and sticking it under Letterman’s desk, couldn’t wait to leave and stood up the moment the interview ended.” the British Daily Mail writes about the fiasco that was Phoenix’s latest interview.
Since the interview was taped, it was leaked and then pulled off the Internet. However, to see for yourselves just how erratic Joaquin’s behavior was, go here for a short fragment. Meanwhile, bear in mind that speculation still has it that the actor was still in character for a rumored mockumentary in the manner of Sacha Baron Cohen.