Joaquin Phoenix Issues Public Apology For His Infamous David Letterman Interview, Calls It ‘One of the Worst Nights…'
The Joker star recalled his infamous David Letterman interview that took place in 2009, and issued a public apology, claiming that it was one of the most horrible nights he had experienced.
The movie star claimed on the recent episode of the talk show that he intended to get big laughs not only from Letterman but also from the audience. While it did not happen back in the day, the actor even left the viewers wondering if Phoenix was having a mental breakdown.
Joaquin Phoenix recalls his 'horrible' and 'uncomfortable' David Letterman interview
While sitting down for an interview with Stephen Colbert, the Her actor said sorry for making the audience uncomfortable with his act. Phoenix explained, '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, 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 further mentioned, 'That was the kind of intention—I just always wanted to get this reaction and see how I would respond to that. So it was beneficial for no one to know, except when needed.'
Meanwhile in the talks, the actor admitted to feeling horrible post the interview. He also revealed that he felt quite uncomfortable and regrets it way too much.
The Gladiator star shared that he is not sure if Letterman is watching or not, but 'I am sorry.'
The actor previously issued an apology when he returned to the show in 2010. Joaquin Phoenix concluded his interview with Stephen Colbert by saying, 'It was strange because in some ways, it was a success, and it was also just one of the worst nights of my life.'
On the work front, the actor was last seen alongside Lady Gaga in Joker: Folie à Deux. He will next be seen in Eddington, co-starring Emma Stone.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Inside Wicker Park Fest's final day: 2 stages, 150+ vendors and $10 donation
Wicker Park Fest 2025 signs off on Sunday after three packed days on the Northwest Side. Streets are closed, stages are live, grills are on. The finale runs noon to 10 p.m., giving the neighborhood one more long stretch of bands, food, and foot traffic, according to WGNTV. Two-stage cycle acts all day - local names, touring bands, quick changeovers, little downtime. Beyond the music, you get dance troupes, art installations, and small cultural pop-ups tucked between vendor tents. It is the same formula that has kept this fest near the top of Chicago's summer calendar: loud, busy, walkable. Wicker Park Fest 2025 closes Sunday(Instagram/wickerparkfest) Food, shops, kids' zone As per a report by WGNTV, more than 150 neighborhood shops and small vendors are in the mix. Food trucks, tented kitchens, bars with extended patios up and down Milwaukee Avenue - most of them working off special fest menus to move the lines fast. Craft stalls and indie retailers round it out, pulling in people who are not just here for the headliners. Families gravitate to Kids Fest, which the chamber runs as its own mini-zone. Every ticket sold there goes straight to Burr Elementary School - 100% of it - funding arts and enrichment programs the school says it can't cover otherwise. Face paint, simple games, and hands-on art tables. It stays busy from morning until the amps kick up again at night. Also read: Jay Leno slams partisan late-night comedy amid Stephen Colbert fallout: 'Why alienate half the audience?' The $10 ask and where it goes There is no mandatory ticket price, but the gate volunteers push a $10 donation. That money gets split: Chicago animal rescue groups on one side, and the Wicker Park & Bucktown Chamber of Commerce on the other, which turns around and uses it to build the fest again next year. The chamber - a nonprofit booster for local business - is the outfit that actually permits, books, and pays for all of this, informs WGNTV. Clear weather and a dense schedule helped draw big crowds, organizers said. Volunteers handled traffic flow, cleanup, and the usual 'where's the stage/bathroom / ATM?' questions. Full lineups, vendor maps, and last-minute updates live at FAQs What are Sunday's hours? Noon to 10 p.m. Is there an admission fee? No, but a $10 donation is encouraged at the gates. Where do donations go? To Chicago animal rescue groups and to the Wicker Park & Bucktown Chamber to fund the fest. How many vendors are there? More than 150 neighborhood shops and pop-ups. Who benefits from Kids Fest tickets? Burr Elementary School receives 100% of Kids Fest ticket sales.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Jay Leno slams partisan late-night comedy amid Stephen Colbert fallout: ‘Why alienate half the audience?'
Jay Leno, former host of NBC's The Tonight Show, is speaking out about what he sees as a concerning shift in late-night comedy: one where partisanship has replaced universal humor, and political alignment threatens to divide audiences, according to Variety. Jay Leno said late-night hosts are 'alienating' half the audience by taking sides politically.(AP) In a recent interview with David Trulio, president of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, Jay Leno lamented how modern late-night comedians 'cozy up to one side' and alienate half their viewership. He emphasized the importance of comedy as a unifying escape. He was quoted in the Variety report saying, 'People come to a comedy show to get away from things. Why shoot for just half an audience all the time?' Also read: David Letterman blasts CBS and Paramount for canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: 'Pure cowardice' Jay Leno on keeping it balanced Leno, who hosted The Tonight Show from 1992 to 2009, and again from 2010 to 2014, was known for keeping his political jokes balanced. Referencing a 2009 George Mason University study, Trulio noted Leno's jokes were nearly evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. Leno quipped that he got hate mail from both sides over the same joke and added, 'That's how you know you're doing it right.' He further recalled that he never discussed politics with longtime friend Rodney Dangerfield, reinforcing his belief that 'funny is funny' no matter which side one is on. When asked what advice he would give to today's comedians, Leno warned them against becoming mouthpieces for any political group. Jay added that the audience does not want to hear a lecture and said, 'Just do what is funny. Get to the joke as quickly as possible.' Leno stressed that building an inclusive audience matters more than appeasing a political base, and added, 'Why alienate one particular group? I like to bring people into the big picture.' Also read: Trey Parker humorously apologizes to Trump after WH anger over South Park's controversial episode; 'We're terribly…' Stephen Colbert-CBS controversy and fallout Leno's remarks come just as CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has stirred up a controversy. While CBS insists the decision was purely financial, critics, including David Letterman, slammed the move as politically motivated. Tensions escalated after the network settled a $16 million lawsuit with Donald Trump, who openly celebrated Colbert's ouster, the Variety report added. Stephen Colbert responded to Trump with an expletive-laced rebuke on air. Meanwhile, several top comedians and other late-night show anchors like Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers rallied behind Colbert. Stewart and Oliver, former Daily Show colleagues, joined his recent taping as well. FAQs Why does Jay Leno think late-night comedy has become too political? Leno believes modern late-night shows often take sides politically, which alienates half the audience and undermines the universal appeal of comedy. Was Jay Leno politically neutral on The Tonight Show? Yes. A study showed he made fun of both Democrats and Republicans nearly equally, and he prided himself on receiving complaints from both sides. Did Leno comment on Stephen Colbert's show cancellation? Leno did not directly address Colbert's exit, but his comments come amid controversy surrounding CBS's decision, which many believe is politically charged. What did Colbert say after Trump celebrated his show's cancellation? Colbert responded on-air, telling Trump to 'Go f--- yourself,' escalating tensions around the show's ending.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
David Letterman blasts CBS and Paramount for canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: ‘Pure cowardice'
David Letterman has slammed CBS and Paramount for canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Letterman, who created the late night show over three decades ago, accused CBS of 'pure cowardice,' Fox News reported. David Letterman created The Late Show nearly 32 years ago(AP) Appearing on The Barbara Gaines Show, a podcast hosted by his former executive producer, David Letterman said he did not believe the claim that Stephen Colbert's was canceled for financial reasons. The comedian also talked about Paramount's $16 million settlement with US President Donald Trump and theorized that the deal was linked to The Late Show's cancellation. This is not the first time the television host has slammed CBS' decision. The 78-year-old posted a montage of him roasting CBS throughout the years after The Late Show's cancellation was announced. David Letterman slams CBS and Paramount "This is pure cowardice," Letterman said about CBS and Paramount's decision. "They did not do the correct thing. They did not handle Stephen Colbert — the face of that network — in the way he deserves to have been handled," he explained. Also Read: David Letterman takes a dig at CBS after cancellation of Stephen Colbert's Late Show He questioned the claims of the financial losses that Colbert's show was reportedly facing. "I'll bet they were losing this kind of money a month ago. I'll bet they were losing this kind of money six weeks ago. Or they have never been losing money," the television host claimed. David Letterman on Paramount's settlement with Donald Trump Letterman also spoke his mind on Paramount's decision to settle with Trump over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. The move came ahead of Paramount's merger with Skydance. On Thursday, federal regulators stated that they had voted to approve the merger, valued at $8 billion. Furthermore, Skydance CEO David Ellison has promised to eliminate all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at Paramount, NPR reported. Skydance has not denied Trump's claims that the network will run public service announcements worth $20 million that were consistent with his ideological beliefs. David Letterman said that Skydance Media, which would soon be the new owners of Paramount, wanted to avoid any trouble with Trump, which is why they got rid of Colbert, who is an outspoken critic of the president, before the acquisition. As per Fox News, the chat show host David Ellison, as "the Oracle twins" on the podcast. Also Read: Joaquin Phoenix regrets his infamous David Letterman interview: 'It was horrible and uncomfortable' "The Ellison twins, the Oracle boys, they don't want any trouble along the lines of freedom of the press or free speech or freedom of expression," David Letterman claimed. "They don't want to get their hands dirty. They don't want the government going after them, because that concept of freedom of the press and freedom of speech — that's so old-fashioned," he explained. FAQs What did David Letterman say about the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show? He called it an act of 'pure cowardice.' Was David Letterman part of The Late Show? Yes, he was the creator of the series. When will the last episode of Stephen Colbert's show air? The show will end in 2026.
