Joaquin: Junkie or New Borat?

(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»

But he is a little 'intense'

(NEWSER) - Gwyneth Paltrow has defended increasingly bizarre Joaquin Phoenix as a "real softy, kind person," reports the Boston Globe. But Paltrow conceded the actor-turned-rap-wildman can be a bit ... distant. "He has trouble relaxing. He's very intense. Sometimes you don't want to disturb him," said the actress, who co-starred with Phoenix in Two Lovers. No word from Gwyneth if she thinks Joaquin's mounting oddness is all an act. More»

Whatever is happening 'isn't funny,' says doc

(NEWSER) - A Chicago psychiatrist has offered yet another theory for the recent odd behavior of actor Joaquin Phoenix: he might be losing his mind. While bloggers speculate that the zombie-like Phoenix is either hooked on drugs or spoofing his fans with a zoned-out tumble into a laughable rap music career, Dr. Paul Dobransky notes that Phoenix is exhibiting a lack of emotion and the vocal tics of schizophrenia, reports the Los Angeles Times. More»

(NEWSER) - Bizarre behavior aside, Joaquin Phoenix does have ambitions for his new career in rhyming, as he revealed in an interview with ABC News. “I want it to be big,” he said of his debut album, which is in the works. “Not big like popular. I want it to really try and be, for me, the culmination of my life thus far.” Don’t worry, clubgoers, “there are dance songs.” But “most of it, I think, is an internal exploration.” More»