Phoenix Rises as Rapper Joaquin

Another stunt?

(NEWSER) - Security guards hauled off neo-rapper Joaquin Phoenix early this morning after he leaped from the stage during a Miami Beach concert to confront a heckler, reports AP. The increasingly bizarre actor appeared in a disheveled suit to mutter mostly unintelligible lyrics after appearing four hours late to the concert. Suddenly he zinged an obscene insult at the heckler and leaped on him. Fans are still puzzling whether Phoenix's continuing wacky behavior is part of an elaborate hoax or a sign of drug or mental problems. More»

Ex-actor awkward, embarrassing on show

(NEWSER) - A nearly comatose Joaquin Phoenix appeared on The Late Show last night, and his vacant stares and one-word answers forced David Letterman to resort to openly mocking him, Gawker reports. Phoenix—who may or may not be engaging in an elaborate publicity stunt—at one point stuck his gum underneath Letterman’s table. The host ended the interview with, “Joaquin, I’m sorry you couldn’t be here tonight.” More»

(NEWSER) - Joaquin Phoenix really is a struggling rap artist, a rep tells MTV. “The transition from one career to another is never seamless,” the actor’s publicist says. “He intends on exploring his musical interests despite speculative, negative, or positive reactions.” The statement is in direct contrast to rumors that Phoenix and brother-in-law Casey Affleck are staging the meltdown as an elaborate media hoax. More»

Phoenix' rap career might just be a show

(NEWSER) - Joaquin Phoenix's transformation from Oscar-nominated actor to bumbling rapper may be a prank meant to satirize media coverage of pompous actors, Entertainment Weekly reports. “He said, ‘It's a put-on. I'm going to pretend to have a meltdown and change careers, and Casey [Affleck] is going to film it,’” a source close to the actor said. More»

Venice as confused as everyone about actor's bizarre filmed journey

(NEWSER) - First critics were stumped, now film festival fans are just as perplexed after seeing Joaquin Phoenix's latest movie and are still wondering: is he punking us or is he in the throes of a serious mental collapse? "There is no hoax," director Casey Affleck told reporters at the Venice Film Festival, where his movie about Phoenix, I'm Still Here, has captivated audiences. Affleck concedes, however: "I understand how a lot of this movie could be confusing in terms of, 'Oh well, it seems like something's real or not.'" The zen-like film follows Phoenix's bizarre, perhaps genuine, transformation from top actor to shambolic hip-hop wannabe after turning his back on Hollywood two years ago. More»