Joaquin Pounces on Heckler at Rap 'Concert'

(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»

Actor-turned-rapper says he has made his last film

(NEWSER) - Actor Joaquin Phoenix insists he really has quit Hollywood for hip-hop, AP reports. He’s made his last movie and is busy recording rap tracks in his home studio, said the star. Rumors that the career change was actually an elaborate practical joke swirled after video emerged of Phoenix rapping almost inaudibly and falling off a stage in a Vegas club. More»

(NEWSER) - Retired actor and ex-Oscar nominee Joaquin Phoenix hit a Vegas stage last night in his new incarnation—as a rapper, People reports. "This is me saying this is who I am. This is my story," Phoenix said before performing at LAVO in The Palazzo. Brother-in-law Casey Affleck recorded it for a video doc about Phoenix's transition to music and his upcoming, as-yet-untitled album. More»

Old interview with writer reveals it

(NEWSER) - Casey Affleck says that absolutely no one was in on Joaquin Phoenix's hoax except for the actor, his agents, and Affleck himself. But that might not be the case. In an interview with a small independent newspaper last year, one of David Letterman's writers said that Phoenix's strange mumbling interview was "all an act," EW reports. "Think Andy Kaufman without shaving. That’s what he was doing," More»