Joaquin Phoenix Says ‘I’m So Sorry’ for ‘Horrible’ and ‘Uncomfortable’ Letterman Interview: ‘One of the Worst Nights of My Life’

https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/joaquin-phoenix-sorry-letterman-interview-horrible-uncomfortable-1236462178/

34 comments

  1. > “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,’” Phoenix said. “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.”

    > But Phoenix admitted that the interview itself was “horrible,” adding: “It was so uncomfortable. I regret it, I’ll never do it again. I’m so sorry.”

    > Reflecting on the moment with Colbert, Phoenix concluded: “It was strange because in some ways, it was a success, and it was also just one of the worst nights of my life.”

  3. I love how Letterman ended that interview with a _”I’m sorry you couldn’t be here with us tonight”_

  4. It kinda felt like the closest we ever got to a modern Andy Kaufman. 

    But yeah, at the time, it definitely sucked thinking Phoenix had lost his mind, lol

  5. This interview made me stop liking Joaquin Phoenix. Todd Phillip’s whole thing about how The Joker was essentially about a man that gets rejected by society because “no one is allowed to be funny anymore” also put the nail in the coffin. Won’t deny that he’s a great actor but he sort of gives me the ick now.

  6. I thought it was a bit he was doing for the Mockumentary I’m Still Here, but I can imagine being in full douche-mode may be hard to look back on. Also a lot of the stunts and behavior that the Wiki said got cut sound a lot like co-writer Casey Affleck’s real behind the curtain behavior, which probably also makes it hard to look back fondly at

  7. Celebrities think so much of themselves dont they?

  8. I remember seeing this live and wondering what the hell was happening. There was also a stoned astronaut or something that I caught as well. And what’s funny is that I’ve seen maybe three full Letterman shows and those were two of them.

  9. Oh come on, it was funny at the time. And I’m tired of pretending it wasn’t.

  13. Even at the time you could tell it was obviously a bit and he was in character. Especially when he stuck his gum to the desk lol. I thought it was funny and Letterman handled it great. He definitely almost got Joaquin to crack a few times.

  14. I thought it was genius. Probably the most memorable Letterman interview of all time.

  15. I’ve always loved that interview…not so much because of Phoenix doing the bit, but because it just exemplified why I felt like Letterman was the true king of late night of the time. Leno could be funny, and he could run an interview, but in my opinion nobody can spin gold out of a dud like Letterman could.

  20. It was flat to watch, because it seemed forced and “edgy”, and at one point Joaquin nearly breaks character on one of Dave’s barbs, adding to the phoniness.

  23. I genuinely thought Joaquin had severe anxiety after watching this interview. Idk if that was the role he was playing but it seemed to be the same in some of his acceptance speeches

  24. Hes not gonna apologize for leaving that gay movie without any warning & breaking contract? Oh not for another 12 years gotcha

  26. He can backpedal all he wants… it was batshit to do what he did. Just mean-spirited and insane. And he still seems insane. He’s a ridiculously talented actor, but I won’t watch anything else he does.

  27. He shouldn’t need to apologize for that. He gave Letterman a bunch of layups to goof on him. It was funny. His movie was funny too, underrated film.

  28. Did he also apologize for him and Casey Affleck sexually harassing the cast of “I’m Still Here”?

  29. I mean it was soooo highly unusual given his actual personality. People talked about it for years. Most people knew it was a skit or a bit that he was working on. In the famous words of John Lennon, “I’m an artist, man. Give me a tuba, and I’ll get you something out of it.” At that time, he was always working on something.

  30. He didn’t need to apologize since it was a bit than an interview. He and Dave dropped the act and thanked the audience after it was done but that footage was aired years later.

  32. Please… Let’s not pretend.

    Letterman was no stranger to awkward, uncomfortable, disastrous interviews.

  33. I’m rooting for Joaquin. There are plenty of actors who have a hard time in interviews when they don’t have lines in front of them. Fantastic and amazing actors. You could tell he was uncomfortable last night, but Colbert coached him through and it was awesome. Both are incredible men to look up to. I wish him the best.

  34. He took an artistic risk and it didn’t really pay off. It certainly had people talking, so it was successful in that at least.

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