Robert Downey Jr. slams modern celebrity culture as ‘absolute horses—‘
Robert Downey Jr. criticized modern celebrity culture and the rise of influencers, calling the idea that they represent the future of stardom 'absolute horse s—.' He acknowledged the accessibility of online fame but emphasized the importance of creating meaningful work over seeking attention. Downey shared concerns about the influence of social media on youth, likening some influencers to 'evangelical hucksters of the information age.'
- ▪Robert Downey Jr. dismissed the notion that influencers are the future of stardom during an appearance on the 'Conversations for our Daughters' podcast.
- ▪He compared modern influencers to 'evangelical hucksters of the information age' and expressed concern about young people being drawn into attention-driven online economies.
- ▪Downey recounted how his 14-year-old son became involved in seeking donations for video game streaming, illustrating his concerns about the influencer culture.
- ▪He stated he avoids social media to prevent manufacturing a false, off-the-cuff persona for public consumption.
- ▪Downey rose to fame as a child actor, faced career setbacks due to legal and substance abuse issues, and later achieved major success as Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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Celebrity News Robert Downey Jr. slams modern celebrity culture as ‘absolute horses—‘ By Lauryn Overhultz, Fox News Published May 1, 2026, 5:10 a.m. ET Originally Published by: Millie Bobby Brown fans call out ‘Enola Holmes 3’ for glaring manicure mistake Emily Blunt's controversial career advice to unhappy workers sparks fiery debate Goldie Hawn on why she hasn't made a movie in years and what would bring her back Robert Downey Jr. bluntly rejected the idea that influencers are the future of stardom, calling it “absolute horse s—” and argued that real stars will still be defined by what they create. Downey Jr. said the rise of self-made online fame isn’t necessarily a negative, but it does change what it takes to stand apart.
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