Jimmy Kimmel used part of his Oscars monologue to make wisecracks about Robert Downey Jr.’s substance abuse issues 20 years ago.
The late-night host set it up by joking that “Oppenheimer” director Christopher Nolan didn’t have an internet connection so his “porn addiction” would not distract him while working.
“Congratulations to [Cillian Murphy’s] costar Robert Downey Jr. This is the highest point of Robert Downey Jr.’s career,” Kimmel said. He paused and said, “Well, one of the highest points.”
The 58-year-old actor smiled at first and tapped his nose as the audience laughed along. The actor’s “Oppenheimer” costar, Emily Blunt, reached across to grab Downey Jr.’s shoulders in a show of support as he kept a tight smile on his face.
Kimmel responded to the nose-tap gesture, saying, “Was that too on the nose, or was that a drug motion you made?”
RDJ then made a circling motion indicating the host should “wrap it up” and mouthed, “Keep it going,” as the camera stayed focused on him for several more seconds.
Kimmel followed that with another joke. “Look at this guy, 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 penis?” he quipped.
“Not even 20 years ago, things weren’t going that great for Robert. He played the villain and, correct me if I have this wrong, in a movie where Tim Allen turns into a dog?” At this point, Downey Jr. looks annoyed.
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“If you ever decide to remake that film, I have just the guy to play Tim Allen,” the Oscars host continued as the camera panned to the dog Messi from “Anatomy of a Fall.”
“Messi has an overdose scene, if you’ve seen it, you know it is incredible,” Kimmel said.
Downey Jr. won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for “Oppenheimer.” This was his first Academy Award win and third nomination. The actor previously spent time in jail in 1999 on drug-related charges and had several infamous public mishaps during the height of his addiction struggles. RDJ has been sober since 2003.