Billy Bob Thornton Gets Uber Pissed When Canadian Radio DJ Refers to His Acting Career
If there’s one thing I love, it’s watching videos of A-list celebs acting like dicks. Thanks to the wonderful CNN (Centre of National News), we’ve got a clip of a recent radio interview with Billy Bob Thornton and his new band The Boxmasters in which a Toronto DJ makes the mistake of referring to him as…an actor! Apparently Billy Bob had agreed to the interview under the pretext that there would be no talk of his film career, keeping the focus 100% on his prolific new band — they’ve released three albums this year alone — when right off the bat, the host introduces him as an actor/director. As soon as the words come out of his mouth, a visibly annoyed Billy Bob shifts around in his seat. From then on, he plays extreme hardball, refusing to answer questions and instead simply acting confused and claiming he doesn’t know what the host means.
Eventually it comes out that he’s pissed the whole ‘acting’ thing came up, claiming he specifically told the producers he wouldn’t discuss it. At this point, he starts talking about Famous Monsters movie magazine in an attempt to point out the irrelevance of the hosts questions and starts (essentially) comparing himself to Tom Petty; his logic being that you wouldn’t be asking Tom Petty about his ’second love of music’ and what not. It’s quite the entertaining watch. Although I’m not a fan of his music, I think Billy Bob is a great actor and looks to be a fun dude. Having said that, as frustrating as it must be to try and be taken seriously as a musician (we all know the problems Joaquin Pheonix is currently experiencing with this) I think you have to build that distinction based on the quality of your material rather than simply pretending like one career doesn’t exist. If Michael Jackson wasn’t so shitty at baseball, his pop star career wouldn’t have consistently overshadowed it. Right?? Either way, I could watch Billy Bob awkwardly sabotage an on air interview any day.
Comments (58)
that was awesome
Posted by Niklas on April 9th, 2009Full interview link here:
Posted by Sean on April 9th, 2009http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJWS6qyy7bw
He comes across like such a jackass. If he didn’t want to be known as an actor, then he should not have made a name for himself as one. What the hell? It’s not like Jian asked him questions about his private life or anything squicky.
Posted by Less Lee Moore on April 9th, 2009So? if he agrees to do the show without reference to his acting career and then is introduced as an actor right off the bat no wonder he gets annoyed.
Posted by Niklas on April 9th, 2009I’m with Billy-Bob on this. It may seem trivial, but if he promised not to mention it he shouldn’t have. Of course everybody knows BBT is an actor, so the only reason to mention it is for the hook of the story (‘actor with a band’). Maybe, just maybe, BBT didn’t want any mention of his acting because he doesn’t want to steal the thunder from his bandmates?
Posted by Bas on April 9th, 2009@Bas – Uh, this grand-standing interview totally ’steals the thunder’ from his band mates, so I doubt that was the reason. Guy was a total ass about things, and could have solved the problem right away in the interview. Furthermore, I thought the host was being overtly indulgent towards BBT, he should have let him have it, or simply ignored him completely during the interview. I did like the way the host does actually confront him on things, but he is still being waaaaay to nice, all things considered. If this were a more entertaining host, he’d have let BBT really have it, and mock him right out of the studio, which BBT rightly deserves.
Posted by Kurt on April 9th, 2009Celebrity or artists placing “DEMANDS” on their interviewers is the problem here. Either you do the interview or you don’t. This crazy stipulation seems to be one of the key reasons why Journalism has fallen thru the floor in terms of quality.
Posted by Kurt on April 9th, 2009I disagree. Why should a celebrity be required to talk about things they dont want to talk about?
If you are complaining about journalism shouldnt you place the blame on the journalists for agreeing to the celebrity demands?
Posted by Niklas on April 9th, 2009I am on the fence here- if you are a known entity in ANY way, and you do something that deviates from that path- for example, if say you were a famous athlete who became a famous actor- people in the media will pay attention and refer to it (even in passing) to give the public an entry point into the new endeavor- just ask say, Michael Jordan when he tried baseball… or Dwayne Johnson who went from football to wrestling to acting… or David Bowie when he began acting: people have a past- and the media would even refer to a famous person’s past if they were a deli counter worker or a waitress or a taxi driver… so why not as an actor? BUT- I do understand that BBT asked not to be referred to as an actor, and was. I just think he took it too far… the interviewer wasn’t inquiring about his acting- he WAS asking about the band, so BBT’s reaction was a bit childish.
Posted by Palevox on April 9th, 2009@niklas, point taken, it is a two-way street.
Posted by Kurt on April 9th, 2009I have an interesting point to bring up about the bandmates. If this was a true band were they all are equally part of the decisions and the direction the band takes, why didn’t another band member speak-up, call a time out, discuss the direction Billy was taking the interview? Why, because they aren’t a true band they are a plaything of a uber-actor-ego. They keep their mouths shut because they know its Billy’s deal and Billy has all the power. Why does Billy have all the power – BECAUSE HE IS A FAMOUS ACTOR, SCREENWRITER, DIRECTOR. what bullshit.
Posted by rus in chicago on April 9th, 2009Like the Christian Bale meltdown, Billy Bob had reason to be a bit pissed, but like Christian Bale his reaction is childish and over the top. Would have been better to just mention he wanted to talk about music at the beginning and then move on. Instead he just goes into bizarre jack ass billy bob thorton.
Posted by Matt on April 9th, 2009I watched it again and you can see the bandmates with looks of “here we go again” hilarious. makes sense, GUY LAW 2381 – whoever in the room has f*cked Angelina Jolie is BOSS.
Posted by rus in chicago on April 9th, 2009How is the other band members being vaginas BBT’s fault though?
I dont think they care because they will get a lot more publicity from this interview than if it would’ve just been a regular interview.
Posted by Niklas on April 9th, 2009Arrogant cunt.
nuff said.
Posted by James Dead on April 9th, 2009What is it about Billy Bob Thornton that brings out so much misogyny in people?
Posted by Wintle on April 9th, 2009His soul patch.
Posted by Jay C. on April 9th, 2009misogyny, what? were is there evidence of hatred (or contempt) of women or girls
Posted by rus in chicago on April 9th, 2009oooo, just saw the ‘c’ word
Posted by rus in chicago on April 9th, 2009look it all boils down to; BBT asked not to be asked about his acting, the station obviously agreed becasue he was there. And they still right away introduced him as an ACTOR!!! Yeah i would be pissed off too. Palevox had the best comment though. Did he have a right to be pissed, you bet your ass. but could he of handled it better, yeah probably. but whats done is done, now lets get over it.
Posted by rick on April 9th, 2009Sorry about the “C” bomb guys. lol….I don’t get to use it often and ya know….I calls it as I sees it.
The thing is, I mean really? Really? Lets just not reference your acting career? The only god damn thing people know you from!!? Give me a break…Just because an entertainer wants to go a new direction, everyone is suppoused to just forget or not acknowledge what they have done prior? Excuse me??
And then they get pissed?? lol.
Haha, It’s just wild.
Posted by James Dead on April 9th, 2009Counterproductive. To make his arbitrary and extremely self-image-conscious point, he refuses to answer the very questions that he specifically ONLY wanted asked. Nice.
fuck thornton. and fuck modbilly.
Posted by Richard on April 9th, 2009“I got this new band called the Rimjobs. We’d love to do an interview on your show, but only under the stipulation that you don’t — under any circumstances — mention that grocery store I used to (err…still do) work at.
It’s a double standard to want to, for the duration of the radio interview, essentially erase his acting history, but still have the same egotistical asshole-ness that could only have been cultivated during and because of said acting history.
Posted by Richard on April 9th, 2009I’ve been reading reviews about the Boxmaster’s and they sound quite hilarious. Two and three talented musicians + 1 very untalented and somnambulist actor trying to sing, and trying even harder to drum.
Thornton does have a reasonable expectation that the interview won’t veer into his acting career. However, it wasn’t. It was simply used to preface the bands biography. I’ll bet the thing that really buzzed Billy Bob was how the interviewer referred to the band name “Boxmasters” sounding familiar because it had Billy Bob. Billy Bob wants to believe he’s on tour with Willie Nelson because his band is awesome, maybe so, but not that definition of awesome.
Posted by Andrew on April 9th, 2009I like how Jay’s quit his job to become the new FilmJunk goto guy for celebrity tantrums. Awesome dude!
Posted by Rusty James on April 9th, 2009I’m with Kurt on this one. This Class A douchery going on. He has a chance to talk about his music career and get folks interested in The Box Master and instead wastes his time being a dick.
If the host had asked a bunch of movie questions then he might have call to be upset. He simply mentioned Billy Bob is an actor. When BBT asks if he would ask Tom Petty those questions, I think a better comparison would be Courtney Love. Jeezus. Have some respect for the listeners, your band and the radio DJ; not to mention just people in general.
Posted by Andrew James on April 9th, 2009Wow. What a complete jackass. The DJ didn’t ask him a single question about his acting or writing career, and only refered to it in the introduction. I comend the DJ for keeping it cool and not falling apart because of BBT’s douchebaggery. He actually manages to tame the cunt and actually get a solid interview. Fucking Boxmasters.
Posted by Matt on April 9th, 2009he wasn’t there to talk about his acting! he was there for his band there for all the questions should go to his band and his musical “carrer”. It doesn’t matter what he did before, all that matters is what he’s doing now. that was the point of the interview, he takes it seriously, so who are you to judge him otherwise
Posted by rick on April 9th, 2009Who are you to judge my judgement?
Posted by Matt on April 9th, 2009Matt: I was happy to see the terms ‘tame the cunt’ and ‘boxmasters’ in the same comment. Thank you.
Posted by Jay C. on April 9th, 2009“His soul patch.”
Hey, wait a minute…
Posted by Wintle on April 9th, 2009HA to shay matt.
i’m not judging your judgement. i’m haveing a simple and curtious debate. i could care less either way. i just think it’s funny that peopl get so blown up over stars who get pissed once in a while. we hold them to this godly status and expect them to be a sort of idol but we forget they are human too. maybe he was having a bad day, maybe it really offended him. we have no idea. everyone has those days and everyone has blown up on something that was either meant to be offensive or was just an off the cuff mistake. he his human, christan bale is human. if they wanna blow up now and then let them go.
Posted by rick on April 9th, 2009Yes, celebrities are held to higher standards and when they slip up people give them a lot more grief then they would to non-celebrities. Maybe unfairly? I don’t know. But when people overreact and “blow up” on people who did little to deserve the verbal abuse, then it’s not ok, regardless of how famous they are, imo. (Although it might be entertaining)
It obviously really offended him, to be referred to as an actor, but the DJ didn’t go on to question him about his psychic mom, banging Angelina, what it was like to work with Tony Cox.
All I’m saying is that he could have handled the situation better than he did.
Thanks, Jay. I thought that, with your penchant for poon-tang, you might appreciate it.
Posted by Matt on April 9th, 2009Rick, you must have missed the end of the interview (as well as your spell check). The guy say’s, “Cosmic Cowboy music”… Yeah… “Cosmic Cowboy music”… I can’t wait to rush out and hear this brilliant band.
Not only that, he also implies that he is some sort of music scholar and exsists on another level of music appreciation. People that need to TELL you how well versed they are generally full of shit. Especially if they follow their self praise with the words, “Cosmic Cowboy music”.
Cheers to the interviewer. Absolute professional. Thorton should apologize personally if it was an, “off the cuff mistake”. Something tells me that in his mind he believes he did NOTHING wrong and the interviewer should be humbled by his musical genius. Dickhead…
Posted by Daemon on April 9th, 2009The interviewer was very composed and level headed. Billy Bob might have the right to be upset about the reference to his acting career, but his reaction was childish. And he didn’t even have the decency to join his band mates when they performed. He’s a douche. Nuff said.
Posted by SaltireFlower on April 9th, 2009The vast majority of Hollywood actors, if they are famous long enough will lose all sense of reality. Think about it. Most of these idiots were one lucky break away from being a waiter/waitress the rest of their lives… If they ARE college educated, chances are it is in “drama”, or “costuming from the 17th century.” Then WHAMO they catch lightning in a bottle and suddenly are making 10 million dollars to play make-believe for a month or two. Throw in an endless supply of free drugs and throngs of other idiots who follow them around all day long telling them how wonderful they are… of course they are going to be f’d in the head.
It’s got to be very hard to stay sane if that is your life. So, on one hand, yes he was being a dick, but on the other… oh who cares, yeah he was being a dick.
Posted by Shut-Up Ed on April 9th, 2009I remember interviewing a band and the band’s manager (i.e. two of the members’ father) told me not to ask one question. It was regarding the band’s decision to kick out a member. Every e-mail question from listeners had to do with that subject. Everyone wanted to know why this person was kicked out. I never agreed not to ask, so I asked anyway. The band gave me a ‘no comment’ and I was taken off the guestlist for the show later that night.
I understand BBT not wanting to have it mentioned. That’s fine. It’s also up to the interviewer whether to agree to it or not. If the the interviewer said ‘okay’, but didn’t think his intro would be in violation then he just f’d up and BBT should have just sucked it up and dealt with it. If BBT thought it was on purpose or it was indeed on purpose then I’m totally on his side.
It’s sucks the way it turned out, but it happens.
Posted by Greg on April 9th, 2009how good or how bad his band is, is irrelevent. They had him on to talk about the band, they went past it, period. I’m not denying that he was a “dick” or acted “childish” but good lord damon at the end of the day he’s still rich and we’ll still be on here bull-shitting about weather or not he’s an ass whole. so either way, who gives a fuck? I don’t care if he called him a fuckin retard and walked out
one of you who have not ever blown up, had a tirade, and got pissed and made a scene and acted childish to the extremes of being labled a “dick” then you can cast the first stone.
till then, get the fuck over it and move on
Posted by rick on April 9th, 2009What a passive-agressive dork. Wasted everyone’s time.
Posted by Damndirtyape on April 9th, 2009this was great promotion for the band. i had no idea who they were before this. i just spent the last half hour you tubing
Posted by mike on April 9th, 2009It was the demeanor of the host that set BBT off…..I really think that BBT was justified to be upset…..
Posted by eddie on April 9th, 2009Maybe BBT realized that the host used to be a member of Moxy Fruvous. That’d piss me off too.
Posted by Greg on April 10th, 2009http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9F_XHb81N0
Who wouldn’t want act like an asshole to this guy?
Posted by Greg on April 10th, 2009They should rename the band BBT. And their next album should be filled with diss-songs aimed at the radio-dude.
Posted by Bas on April 10th, 2009Douchebag!
Posted by Tomas on April 10th, 2009Mate, Rick, your killing me man… I was simply playing around and trying to make a joke. Your taking the whole thing way too serious and are coming off like a bit of a dick yourself. Why are you so pissed off at people who don’t share your opinion? And you end all of your post’s with shit like, “What’s done is done, now let’s just get over it” and, “Get the fuck over it and move on”. Well, perhaps other people still have some things to say? Maybe the debate and conversation isn’t over just because you add your two cents and say it is? Seems to me that your not courteously discussing anything here.
come to think of it, I don’t really dislike Thorton, I think I just dislike Rick… Try to relax man. And seriously, spell check.
Sorry for the rant everyone. Billy Bob Thorton is the shit
Posted by Daemon on April 10th, 2009So BBT got booed off the stage in Toronto….
I have to say I would have booed if I was there, he brought up the interview and was being a douche about it onstage, and acted surprised considering that he called Canadian fans ‘mashed potatoes without the gravy’
Posted by Goon on April 11th, 2009who is Billy Bob Thornton?
Posted by joe on April 11th, 2009He got booed and pussed out!
http://www.theboot.com/2009/04/10/billy-bob-thornton-booed-in-canada/
Now I’m actually starting to lose some of the respect I had for this guy as a man. Be a man don’t run at first sign of rough treatment! How is that rock and roll?!
Have you guys seen the youtube clips of The Boxmasters? This is the group Billy thinks deserves the respect of a talent like Tom Petty?! I watched like 4 clips over 15 minutes and it seems like a bunch of guys jamming in a garage. There is are some good musicians so it is easy to cover for, or simply overpower, Billy’s drumming and singing. And the Cosmic Cowboy Music Billy affectionately labels his music looks and feels like any Grand Ole Opry Karaoke!
Posted by rus in chicago on April 11th, 2009Damon your to pretentious and vain for your own good. My comment wasn’t directed to the group as a whole, but to you as an individual. Spelling does not negate maturity nor intelligence. Everyone has their right to share the opinion, and I would never say other wise to a whole group. But you as an individual I will say “get the fuck over it†Then you blast me for telling people to get over it and that my two cents all that matter. But you’re the one calling me a dick for sharing mine, so not only are you vain, you’re a hypocrite. I called you out one on one for the sake of argument, and because I don’t agree with you I’m a dick. Look in the mirror buddy, not out the window. And do yourself a favor; learn the difference between an open discussion, and an individual debate.
Posted by rick on April 13th, 2009Ricke – Now it’s clear that you are not listening to people but simply waiting for your turn to speak… Before I even posted on this topic you stated, TO THE GROUP, on post #20, “But what’s done is done, now let’s just get over it”… Are you going to try and spin that on me? That was directed to the group as a whole, not to me. Open discussion right?
“one of you who have not ever blown up, had a tirade, and got pissed and made a scene and acted childish to the extremes of being labled a “dick†then you can cast the first stone.
till then, get the fuck over it and move on”
You wrote that right? It does begin with, “one of you” yeah? It doesn’t say, “You DaEmon” yes? Sounds like your still addressing a group to me… Open discussion yes? Involving more than you and I, correct? Not an individual debate… Are you understanding me? Are you actually going to comment back and try to spin your ignorance onto ME?
Dude, 20 people AGREED with you and took the same stance on this whole BBT topic, yet I didn’t get into a pissing match with ANYONE else but you… Are you following me? I didn’t call you a dick for sharing your opinion, other people shared the same view. I called you a dick because you acted like a DICK. Can you understand that??? Are you hearing me now man?
And man, sorry, but when you misspell a shit load of words in your post (including the name of the person your having an, “individual debate” with) you come off as a pretty unintelligent person. So, if you would like, since this HAS become a completely, “individual debate” that is totally unrelated to the original post, maybe we could both shut the fuck up for awhile? Or swap emails or phone numbers or mailing addresses so as to not bother the group with our own selfish bitching?
Posted by Daemon on April 13th, 2009The first post you’re absolutely right, that was to everyone. What you call monopolizing the conversation is what I call sound advice. After that every post was to some response. 28 was to matt as well as 32. 38 and the rest on have been directed to only you… You pick and choose clips of what I’ve said while ignoring the rest. “But good lord daemon at the end of the day he’s still rich and we’ll still be on here bull-shitting about weather or not he’s an ass whole.†So yes that was to you, see your name? huh open your eyes and learn to read.
So when you learn how to read, I will learn how to spell. You pick one little comment I’ve made and run with that as the basis of your entire argument, instead of refuting everything as a whole. That’s why my spelling bothers you so. Instead of focusing on the whole argument, you pick out little words that may be spelled wrong, but you still know what I’m saying. Ignorance is measured by the amount of information your willing to ignore at the time. Again, look into the mirror, instead of out the window. You should really learn to start reading the whole post before you base your entire argument on a phrase that you didn’t even take the time to read all of it.
As far as the amount of people agreeing with me; I do not care. As long as there is someone who thinks and feels another way I will try to engage them in conversation. I like hearing and discussing why people feel and believe what they do. Just like I’m engaging with you right now. Your rhetoric sounds nice, but to me it just sounds like a vain egotistical prick trying to sound more intelligent then what he actually is. Now your not even arguing BBT anymore, but who I am as a person based off a couple posts. Well thanks Dr. Phill, but I’m good.
Posted by rick on April 13th, 2009But i will agree with you on the last bit of your last paragraph. People don’t need to see our debate that went away from the over all topic. lol, i have a tendency to do this.
rickanderson3425@msn.com
That is my email.
Despite all are differences i must say, i do like debating and arguing with you. You are right about one thing; i love the thrill of the argument. so i look forward to hear from you and I’m excited about our many debates to come
Posted by rick on April 13th, 2009aaaaaaaaaaaah, a filmjunk friendship is born, how sweet. It’s kind of like that scene in Brokeback Mt. were they fight and fight then make out.
Posted by rus in chicago on April 13th, 2009HA, i wouldn’t go that far rus. but your post did give us an insite on what you think about when your alone in bed at night
Posted by rick on April 13th, 2009what an unprofessional douchebag! lol i love that the interviewer stayed professional and gave billy bob just enough rope to hang himself. BBT should be ashamed of himself. His ego just cost him and his bandmates.
Posted by patrick on April 13th, 2009oh please Billy Bob, stop trying to be as cool as Joaquin Phoenix
Posted by nomad on April 21st, 2009Well thankyou BB. Now, when ever I’m asked who I am I can say “I’m a hunchbacked geek. BBT said so so it must be true.” Hey, y’know it’s just great being a hunchbacked geek. It means your under no obligation to kiss or suck anything,(unlike the late show guy with the purple striped tie) and you can say what you want!!, like; dodging the rest of the Canadian tour because of bad inFluences?, that’s just plain cowardly. and, did you consider that to “talk about” your acting career, and to spend under three seconds MENTIONING your acting career might not be considered the same thing? As for your little Tom Petty/filmland-monsters lilt, are you surprised that people worried about your mental health? Us hunchback geeks do things like read biographies of famous people like Sigmund Freud, and he went through a time of being a touch twisted and delusional. Cocaine was still legal then and he enjoyed it perhaps too much. You should read it some time. The monsterous swelling of his ego and the parallel swelling of his paranoia make interesting reading. Glad to see you were in so much better a mood in your last interview, and no doubt about it, Jian is an aggressive, malicious, evil, belligerent, host. Just listen to his past shows if you have any doubts. Some he-man had to stand up to him. Way to go billy!
Posted by Patrick Fuller on April 24th, 2009take care!
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