Tropic Thunderis a movie that has sparked significant controversy due toRobert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of a character in blackface for more than 15 years. However, the film has been heroically defended by its stars and director as a movie that is often talked about without considering the context of Downey Jr.’s character andthe film’s satirical take on the film industry. In a new conversation onRob Lowe’s Literally! podcast, Downey Jr. has once again attempted to defend the movie and explain why audiences just no longer understand the spirit in which movies and TV shows are made.
Tropic Thunder
Tropic Thundersatirizes the film industry, with Robert Downey Jr. playing Kirk Lazarus, an Australian method actor who undergoes a “pigmentation alteration” procedure to portray a black character. Traditionally,blackface in cinemahas been a point of significant contention. Historically used to mock and stereotype African Americans, its contemporary use, especially in a satirical context as seen inTropic Thunder, issomething that has often led to criticismthat Downey Jr. doesn’t believe is justified. He said:
“I was looking back at ‘All in the Family,’ and they had a little disclaimer that they were running at the beginning of the show. People should look it up, exactly what it is, because it is an antidote to this clickbait addiction to grievance that [people seem] to have with everything these days. The language was saying, ‘Hey, this is the reason that we’re doing these things that, in a vacuum, you could pick apart and say are wrong and bad.’ There used to be an understanding with an audience, and I’m not saying that the audience is no longer understanding — I’m saying that things have gotten very muddied. The spirit that [Ben] Stiller directed and cast and shot ‘Tropic Thunder’ in was, essentially, as a railing against all of these tropes that are not right and [that] had been perpetuated for too long.””
Related:7 Things Tropic Thunder Probably Couldn’t Get Away With Today
Many Movies and TV Shows Continue To Draw Complaints
Complaints and backlash against movies, TV shows and stand-up comedy routines often hit the headlines, spurred on by the ability for anyone to spread their opinions on social media in an instant. Examples include gripes against stand-up specials from Ricky Gervais and Dave Chappelle,Brendan Fraser’s use of a fat suit inThe Whale, and the inclusion of “derogatory” dwarfs in the upcomingSnow Whiteremake from Disney.
While many shows now come with disclaimers that some material could cause offense, it doesn’t seem to stop a relatively small number of people – usually a couple of hundreds out of an audience of several million – submitting their grievances about the content. Downey Jr.’ reference toAll in the Familyis an example of disclaimers that face this kind of criticism upfront, and don’t wait for the complaints to flood in. Their disclaimer says:
The program you are about to see is ‘All in the Family.’ It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns. By making them a source of laughter, we hope to show — in a mature fashion — just how absurd they are.
Naturally, the way social media can bring together people with the same opinions, and in the ever-changing world where what is deemed insensitive is constantly in flux, it is unlikely that any disclaimer will manage to completely negate the need for a few people to continue to call out what they believe to be wrong in the world of entertainment.
And if you’re a fan of Robert Downey Jr., check out our video news about his supposed return to the MCU as Iron Man:
