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Joaquin Phoenix Reflects on ‘Horrible’ Letterman Interview that the Actor Calls ‘One of the Worst Nights of My Life’
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, JUL 16 – Joaquin Phoenix expressed regret for his 2009 Late Show interview, calling it "horrible" and "uncomfortable," and apologized to David Letterman during a 2025 Stephen Colbert appearance.
- In New York at the Ed Sullivan Theater, Phoenix apologised to Letterman on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, marking his first return in over a decade.
- In 2009, Phoenix appeared on David Letterman's Late Show in character to promote his mockumentary I'm Still Here, announced his hip-hop retirement, and admitted he felt 'stuck'.
- Phoenix said he remained in character from the pre-interview and sought a 'dangerous' reaction, and the 2009 segment featured mumbling, twitching and minimal eye contact.
- Phoenix told Colbert `It was horrible, it was so uncomfortable, I regret it`, and added `I'm so sorry`.
- On July 18, 2025, Eddington, his new film co-starring Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler and Emma Stone, opens in theaters, aligning with his Late Show return.
45 Articles
45 Articles
Joker Star Joaquin Phoenix Says Infamous Letterman Interview Was 'Horrible' and He'd 'Never Do It Again': 'One of the Worst Nights of My Life'
Joker star Joaquin Phoenix recently returned to The Late Show after a whopping 15 years — but something else also happened: he apologized for his infamous David Letterman interview from 2009 that took place on the show before Letterman turned the reins over to Stephen Colbert. “When I came on this show with Dave, I originally did the pre-interview in character and I realized that it was just a little silly, so I called them back and I said, ‘Lis…
Joaquin Phoenix Calls Awkward 2009 'Late Show' Interview with David Letterman 'One of the Worst Nights of My Life'
Joaquin Phoenix told Stephen Colbert on the July 15 episode of 'The Late Show' that his infamous 2009 interview with the show's former host David Letterman was 'just one of the worst nights of my life.' 'It was horrible, it was so uncomfortable, I regret it,' Phoenix said.
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