Billy Bob Thornton Gives Bizarre Interview On Canadian Radio (VIDEO)

NEW YORK — Joaquin, you have competition. In a radio appearance reminiscent of David's Letterman's recent interview with actor-turned-rapper Joaquin Phoenix, Billy Bob Thornton gave a puzzling and difficult interview Wednesday.

Appearing on CBC radio, the Canadian public broadcaster, Thornton evaded simple questions and criticized the host for mentioning his movie background.

WATCH:

Thornton appeared on the show with his band, the Boxmasters, who are on tour with Willie Nelson.

When host Jian Ghomeshi asked Thornton when the band formed, Thornton said: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Thornton mostly gave brief, sometimes monosyllabic, answers. Asked what music he listened to when he was young, Thornton spoke about reading the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland.

The actor took offense when Ghomeshi suggested he was passionate about music.

"Would you say that to Tom Petty?" asked Thornton.

Thornton eventually made it clear that he was angry with Ghomeshi for his introduction.

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Ghomeshi began the show introducing the band by focusing on their music and prodigious output in less than two years. He did, though, introduce Thornton as an "Oscar-winning screenwriter, actor and director."

"You were instructed not to talk about ... like that," said Thornton, using an expletive.

Ghomeshi, who's also in the band Moxy Fruvous, replied that he was "just giving context." The host said he was pleased to simply talk about music and pointed out Thornton's band was getting attention partially because of the career he's had.

The 53-year-old Thornton won an Academy Award for his screenplay to 1996's "Sling Blade," which he also starred in and directed. This year he stars in "Manure," which played at the Sundance Film Festival, and "The Informers," which comes out later this month.

A lifelong musician, he appeared sensitive to any suggestion that music was a mere "hobby."

The interview, available to stream on and on YouTube at , was receiving hundreds of comments from listeners who almost uniformly lambasted Thornton.

Links:

http://www.cbc.ca/q/
http://www.youtube.com/user/Qtv

After the interview, the band performed an instrumental tune without Thornton _ who didn't have his instrument. "I'm a drummer ... We don't cart those around at 6 o'clock in the morning," Thornton said.

Speaking by phone later, Ghomeshi said: "To not answer questions because I made the apparently egregious mistake of calling him an actor as well as a musician, it just seemed a little absurd."

He added: "It does raise questions about the expectations of parameters that people ostensibly think that they put on us as arts, culture and entertainment journalists."

Thornton's publicist, Arnold Robinson, said the actor had no comment on the appearance.

Comments

[StuCop]

Jian Ghomeshi = Professional

Billy Bob Thornton = Sh*thead

[pipp]

Ever wonder what was behind Neil Young crossing the border...h­ere you go. We're the better for it...and glad to get the Boxmasters home again too.

[James MacDougall]

Explain please?

[angry expat]

Haha...
This guy interviewed me last year and kept getting my name wrong so this is funny as hell to me!
Go Billy Bob! He wasn't bizarre, he was messing with the guy's head.

[ToxicSox]

As a lifelong musician, who's dealt with interviews and the necessity of promotion, all I can say is Billy Bob Thornton is a petulant jerk. The ONLY reason opening acts get this kind of press is they're amazing, someone in the band is famous for another reason, or the headliner is unavailable. In this case, it's two out of three (I'm assuming Willie wasn't around, or he'd have been touting BBT's amazing ability as a drummer - something I've yet to hear).

This interview does have one positive outcome to me: I'm now a fan of Jian Ghomeshi. I thought he handled himself extremely diplomatically and intelligently, when faced with a childish tantrum from some unproven, unknown artist (hey, BBT doesn't want his "other" career mentioned, so let's judge him on what he's done in music.....­....). So I will be looking for more from Ghomeshi, and totally ignoring BBT.

[WoodyCPM]

Is it possible that BBT didn't want his acting career mentioned because he wants the band to be reviewed, interviewed and acclaimed for the music they play and not for his own noteiriety as an actor? What you view as petulant and selfish on BBT's part may have in fact sprung from a desire to promote the band for their music and not for his acting career. Once the DJ had let the genie out of the bottle there was no putting it back.

I'm just sayin'....­.

BBT has been known to step outside the box, in fact he pretty much lives outside the box.

[beesquare1]

Now I get BBT's obscure reference to building monster models: When he asks Ghomeshi "Would you explain why it's not a hobby?" in reference to Tom Petty, he MEANT for his irrelevant ramble to be about a hobby - in other words, an extremely obtuse way of saying to Ghomeshi "Okay, so if you think music is just a hobby to me, then I'll give you hobby talk..."

I don't think BBT was high at all - maybe tired and cranky, but still inexcusable and deplorable behaviour - like a petulant child who didn't get his own way, with an exaggerated sense of his own importance. He knew EXACTLY what he was doing from start to finish. Ghomeshi didn't ask one question about his film career - as he said, he merely gave the listener context as to who he was interviewing in his introduction, and never mentioned it again. I'm sure he would have done the same had he been interviewing Kevin Bacon, Russell Crowe, etc., or any number of other actors who also list "musician" on their resumes. What an ass. His poor band members deserve better.

Sadly, whether he intended it or not, BBT's music is going to be getting a lot more attention because of this - but on the bright side, so will Ghomeshi. I have nothing but the utmost respect for him for handling what could have been a publicly humiliating experience with dignity and grace - and only exaggerating BBT's ignorance in the

[TheRetiredOne]

During the first few questions, I wondered whether Thornton was experiencing some kind of dementia - it was only later that I realized he was just being an a$$.

[pipp]

Just because you are retired, doesn't mean you can completely nod out. Keep those brain cells alive "Retired One", and try to think for yourself,.­..don't let Q and the Jian crowd do your thinking for you, or it will all turn to jelly by next winter. Defrost and come alive.

[elatas]

BBT's band members must be very happy : they won't get paid with the tour being cancelled. And what a great way not to sell albums. BBT was being very selfish.

[joe transit]

Where did all Billy Bobs hair go? did it fade away with his acting talent, or just melt down to his neck like his face is. If he wanted it not about his acting, and only about the music, why did they not have another band member as spokesperson. It's all about Billy isn't it?

Billy you will never be a Tom Petty.

This is just another pampas and narcissistic out of work actor looking for a paycheck.

[PloughStar]

I commend Ghomeshi's professionalism throughout this bizarre interview. Bravo!

[PatA]

I worked for Willie Nelson in the 1970s.

He is such a gentleman and puts his heart and soul into everything he does......­...even interviews.

I'm shaking my head and wondering how that interviewer kept it going as long as he did. Very intelligent and kind.

I can only hope that he doesn't have to interview anymore pseudo rock and roll "artists" this week.

[jamesmac10]

I take the side of Billy Bob. The radio station agreed to or was instructed not to talk about his acting career but as usual they do what ever it takes to sensationalize or get better ratings. Anyone who has ever dealt with the media will say what ever it takes to get attention.

[Bette]

The dj mentioned BBTs former career one time only - solely in the intro to give listeners a context on who they'd be hearing about - that's called journalistic integrity and informing your audience. He was intro'd as a former Oscar-winning actor/writ­er/directo­r. How can you call that "sensationalizing"? There were no questions about his acting career at all.

Besides, if BBT hadn't had such a 'reknowned' prior career, you honestly think he'd have gotten this flagship gig? Being an opener for Willie Nelson? Not a chance. BBT blew a national cross-country radio broadcast opportunity to show himself (and his band) off as up and coming musicians. Instead he came off as an arrogant, passive aggressive idiot -- plus, it seems the band can't play that well anyway.

The reviews of their performance that night positively stunk. Ghomeshi (formerly the lead singer of Moxie Fruvous) knows more about music than BBT will ever know, plus he's got more experience. Say buh-bye BBT -- you don't have the chops,or the class, to be in the music biz.

[pipp]

Oh come on, Jian reminds me of all my aging profs who wanted to be great writers and ended up teaching and bitter. You don't think Jian had bigger aspirations than sitting behind a mike interviewing those he obviously has so much disdain for, and thinks he's so much better than? Please....­"those who can't teach", and Jian is not happy about where he has ended up.....ano­ther aging over educated professor who somehow missed the boat.

[James MacDougall]

Did you actually listen to the interview? you might want to do so before jumping to conclusions. The host was extremely accomodating in a way that Canadians are to a fault. Billy bob had a chip on his shoulder the size of the Empire State Building.

[David Mast]

This is a brilliant marketing move by Billy Bob, how many people would have even heard of his band, or cared, if the famous movie star didn't come off as some doped-up a-hole.

[catchdis]

oh yeah, and i forgot . . . the way the music is described, i'm really interested in hearing it, but knowing what i know about the actor dude's participation in it . . . not so much now.

sad.

[pipp]

When did you give up and become just like your parents?

[James MacDougall]

Time to knock off the sauce Pippi

[papagaeo]

My sympathies to the other band members. Billy Bob, who I enjoy as an actor, seemed unable to comprehend questions at first, became surly, and then too late made coherant statements. It was overall a very disturbing interview. He seems to have an overly high opinion of himself. I will probably pass on checking out his band, although I am interested in the musical blending. I bet Willie Nelson, if asked about knowing Billy Bob, may say the same thing.....­. I never met him.

[Ibis3]

Now, it is extremely childish in any case to demand that someone who is interviewing you as a help to your career, not mention your background. That's standard fodder for any interview. And yes, I'm sure Tom Petty was often asked about his passion for music and his musical inspirations. That's standard for musicians just starting their musical careers. Oh, and the only reason Jian was interviewing him in the first place was because of his acting. Do you think he'd have got the interview just for being Willie Nelson's opening band?? I think not. He should have been polite and respectful. If he didn't want to be asked about his acting career (why he wouldn't want to be acknowledged for his prior accomplishments as a performer is beyond me, but whatever) he could have just said so or he could have just talked about what he wanted to no matter the question. Interviewees do that all the time. But what did he expect would happen when he insulted his host, his audience, and the country he was in. I wouldn't be surprised if Nelson sent him packing.

[Ibis3]

to pipp & Ram:
According to Arnold Robinson, BBT's spokesman, to MSNBC, no one instructed Jian Ghomeshi not to talk about his acting career.

***
"Robinson confirms that while it's true Thornton does not like to be asked about his movie career while he's out promoting his band, Ghomeshi was never "instructed" to avoid the topic. "Bottom line: We don't tell people what questions they can or cannot ask," Robinson says.

Apparently, Thornton just wasn't in the best mood this morning, but he doesn't seem to have had a change of heart in the hours since. When asked if there were any apologies or group hugs after the segment, Robinson laughs. "I don't think so, no.""
***