Jimmy Kimmel may have crossed the line with his jokes about Robert Downey Jr. at the Oscars. Kimmel is serving as the Oscars host this year, while Downey Jr. was nominated for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award after his performance as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer. The award would be Downey Jr.’s first individual Oscar after a long and renowned career.
While Downey Jr. came to the Oscars hoping for an award, he was met with a controversial joke at his expense instead. As he introduced Downey Jr. and his fellow Oppenheimer cast members, Kimmel alluded to Downey Jr.’s well-documented history of drug abuse during the show. In a video posted by ABC News on YouTube, Kimmel said, “And Robert Downey Jr., one of the highest points of his career!” Then following up to ask Downey Jr., “Was that too on the nose or was that a drug motion you made?“
Kimmel’s decision to joke about Downey Jr.’s past drew immense backlash from viewers, who took to Twitter to criticize his monologue.
@goodgrlbreabrea argued about the disparity between Kimmel’s jokes about Ryan Gosling’s looks and the Downey Jr. comments.
@fiendformojitos pointed out that Downey Jr. was trying to find a way to deescalate, while Kimmel continued to promote his joke.
@_GLVSS_ found that Kimmel’s comment hardly sounded like a joke at all.
@Roxburyfunny1 believes that Kimmel’s comments were little more than an insulting reference to a history that Downey Jr. has moved on from.
Developing…
