Robert Downey Jr. Justifiably Halts Interview With Krishnan Guru-Murthy [Video]
A recent routine interview with Channel 4 reporter Krishnan Guru-Murthy to promote the new film Avengers: Age of Ultron took a decidedly nasty turn for long-time actor Robert Downey Jr., as the questions abruptly shifted from details about the movie to Robert’s past drug abuse.
While Robert Downey’s bad boy ways — which included prison sentences, rehab stints, and general odd behavior due to drug abuse — was once common fodder for Hollywood gossip, that is no longer true today. Downey has put addictions and poor decisions behind him and has risen to astronomical heights as a respected movie actor.
Addiction of any kind is not easy to overcome, and Robert Downey Jr. should be applauded for his recent actions, rather than dwelling on his past, as in the following interview with Guru-Murthy.
As we can see, from the beginning Downey was relaxed and forthcoming. It seems Krishnan attempted to make a segue in his line of questioning, turning from speaking about Robert Downey Jr.’s Avengers character, Tony Stark, to the personal life of Downey.
“He’s becoming a much more likable character as well, isn’t he? A better man. In a way that you are as well.”
Krishnan followed with a line of questioning about a quote Downey made to the New York Times after his incarceration several years ago. It was here that Robert appeared to become uncomfortable, and yet he attempted to answer while also turning the interview back to the promotion of Avengers: Age of Ultron.
“Um, are we promoting a movie?”
Like a dog with a bone, the interviewer seemed unwilling to let go of the topic, to which Downey replied he didn’t remember exactly what he meant by a statement made so long ago. It was simply an opinion given on one day, during one conversation.
“I’m not gonna back pedal on anything I’ve said… I was talking to the person doing the interview that day, and that just happened to be my opinion. That’s the nice thing is, you can have opinions and they kind of change and flow.”
Krishnan said he didn’t know how comfortable Downey was talking about his own life, to which Robert became visibly uncomfortable. One might wonder if the intent of the interview was to anger Robert Downey Jr., as Guru-Murthy’s persistence would not abate. When the topic of his father came up, Robert Downey Jr. seemed to have no more patience. Downey calmly said goodbye, removed his microphone, and left the room.
Though Krishnan spoke the words of an apology to Downey as he exited, the sincerity seemed to fall flat. The news reporter’s tweet regarding the Robert Downey interview carried the same pompous attitude that was evident when he was speaking personally with the star.
Oh dear. Abrupt end to our Robert Downey Jr interview when we started talking about jail and drugs. #walkout#c4newspic.twitter.com/NKz9HkAnZk
— Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) April 22, 2015
What do you think about the interview? Was Robert Downey Jr. right to walk away?
[Image via CNN]
