Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr., who won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 96th Academy Award, found himself at the receiving end of host Jimmy Kimmel’s barbs during the opening monologue. Kimmel aimed two sharp jabs at the actor, including references to his past struggles with substance abuse.
However, the joke seemed to fall flat as the actor looked somber, gazing at the camera before gesturing for Kimmel to proceed. While it remains uncertain if the Iron Man star was in on the jest, body language expert, Judi James, has analyzed Downey Jr.’s reactions, suggesting that the situation may not have been as straightforward as it seemed.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Reaction to Jimmy Kimmel’s Quips at the 2024 Oscars
Jimmy Kimmel took the Oscars hosting duties for the fourth time at the 96th Academy Awards and has since become a topic of discussion for a series of controversial jokes in his opening monologue. One of the most notable among them was his quip at the Oppenheimer star Robert Downey Jr.
“This is the highest point of Robert Downey Jr.’s long and illustrious career — well, one of the highest points,” he said before responding to Downey Jr’s reaction with, “Is that too on-the-nose, or is that a drug motion you’re making?” He also added,
“But look at him, he’s so handsome, so talented, he’s won every award there is to win. Is that an acceptance speech in your pocket or do you just have a very rectangular p**is?”
The Dolittle star, however, did not seem to react too much to his jokes, as he kept a solemn expression. And a body language expert, Judy James has now analyzed the actor’s reaction and has suggested that although he seemed annoyed at the jokes, he still had a hint of humor in his response.
Body Language Expert Analyzes Robert Downey Jr’s Reaction
In a recent interview with The Mirror, body language expert Judi James dissected Robert Downey Jr.’s reaction to Kimmel’s controversial joke at the Oscars. She contrasted the actor’s nonchalant response with the exaggerated reactions of other stars, stating,
“Robert’s two emphatic blinks, one head tilt and a shoulder shrug were his body language response to Kimmel’s p**is joke—There was no grinning or signals of taking the banter under the chin from Downey, unlike other stars who had performed overkill laughter to pretend to be good sports.”
On the question, if the actor was “really mad” over the jokes, James suggested that Downey’s apparent annoyance was part of a growing trend among celebrities to adopt “deadpan facial expressions as a joke when the camera is on them.”
The expert emphasized The Avengers star’s known sense of humor and suggested that the exchange between the Oscar host and the actor was “all totally scripted, not ad-libbed.” While noting that Downey Jr. looked “annoyed,” she also explained that his features remained softened, suggesting a hint of humor in his reaction.
“Kimmel’s comments before the p**is line were flattering to Downey’s looks, so Downey could have been waiting for this punchline and his face probably got more laughs that the joke itself,” said Judi James, concluding her analysis.
Robert Downey Jr. has faced significant struggles with substance abuse and law earlier in his life. Although the actor has recently opened up about such issues, he famously left an interview during the promotion of Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015 when questioned about his history of substance abuse.
