Joaquin Phoenix breaks silence on his abrupt exit from Todd Haynes’ NC-17 gay romance
Joaquin Phoenix broke his silence on his quick split from Todd Haynes’ NC-17 gay romance film during a Venice Film Festival press conference.The 49-year-old actor — who appeared alongside Lady Gaga and director Todd Phillips ahead of the Joker: Folie à Deux premiere — made headlines after exiting the project just five days before production started, leaving the cast, crew, and co-star Danny Ramirez hanging.Further complicating the matter was the fact Phoenix initially brought the idea for the “sexually dangerous” LGBTQ+ film to Phillips.
Now, insiders in Hollywood’s producing community call for “legal action to be brought” against him.Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.Joaquin Phoenix on his departure from a gay romance movie directed by Todd Haynes, at a Venice press conference for #JokerFolieADeux #Venezia81 pic.twitter.com/jsmsBapEBBStill, if the Oscar winner worries about legal ramifications or feels remorse for leaving the project on ice, he isn’t showing it.Phoenix gave a slow but evasive answer after a reporter asked if he wanted to comment on the controversy.“If I do [address the exit], I’d just be sharing my opinion from my perspective, and the other creatives aren’t here to say their piece,” he explained. “It just doesn’t feel like that would be right.
