Robert Downey Jr has criticised influencer culture, branding the idea that content creators could become the 'stars of the future' as 'absolute horses***'. Speaking on the Conversations for our Daughters podcast, the Avengers star reflected on how fame has changed since his childhood.
He noted that in the late 1970s and early 1980s, competition was less intense, whereas now people can 'create celebrity without ever doing much besides rolling a phone on themselves'. While he did not view the shift as entirely negative, he said it made it harder for younger generations to distinguish themselves beyond 'a self-aggrandising kind of influencer type thing'.
Downey Jr also described how influencer culture had affected his own family, with his 13-year-old son Exton becoming interested in gaming streams and viewer donations. He compared influencers to 'evangelical hucksters of the information age', but acknowledged that some are 'grounded, interesting, accomplished, cool people'.
The Oppenheimer star, who will next appear as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, also reflected on his own relationship with social media, saying he tries not to become 'consumed' by internet culture. 'People say they love it when I'm off the cuff, but I'd be manufacturing that aspect for them. So it's BS,' he said.
