Robert Downey Jr.’s Thoughts on Influencers
Actor Robert Downey Jr. recently shared his views on today’s internet influencers, jokingly telling them, “Get off my lawn!” during an appearance on Bran Feren’s podcast, Conversations for Our Daughters.
The 61-year-old admitted that the current wave of DIY entertainers sometimes seems like a “con artist” to him. He believes that the sheer volume of individuals seeking fame without much effort makes it tougher for genuinely talented individuals to be recognized.
Concerns About Celebrity Culture
“People can become celebrities simply by recording themselves on their phones,” he said. “I don’t necessarily view that as negative. It’s just more challenging for individuals to stand out.”
He also expressed hope that young people wouldn’t get too caught up in the “self-aggrandizing influencer” trend.
Despite these concerns, Downey doesn’t dismiss all social media figures. He mentioned having met some who were quite accomplished and down to earth. Still, he’s skeptical about the idea that influencers are the future stars of the industry. “When I hear people saying the stars of tomorrow will be influencers, I think, ‘I don’t know what world you live in, but that sounds incredible.’”
Influencer Challenges
Interestingly, he revealed that even his teenage son is influenced by this new online culture. “Next thing you know, you find yourself asking, ‘Hey, if you enjoy this video game, would you like to donate to it?’ It almost becomes like a religion,” he noted.
He compared today’s influencers to the so-called evangelical scammers of previous decades. However, he acknowledged that this is a new, uncharted territory, making it difficult to pass harsh judgments.
As for himself, Downey emphasized his desire to avoid industry pressure to share more of his personal life online, explaining that it feels inauthentic to him.
Concerns About Content Consumption
Moreover, he reflected on the current clickbait culture, which he feels reduces valuable content to something easily disposable. “I don’t want to be consumed,” he stated. The father of three reminisced about the shift from traditional media to online platforms that many argue began in the late 2000s, saying, “There’s something about that era that feels like 2009 was just yesterday.”
