The debate over whether social media influencers can truly become film stars has been ongoing, and Robert Downey Jr. has now weighed in with a sharp critique. The Hollywood legend dismissed the idea of influencers being hailed as “stars of the future”, calling it “absolute nonsense.”
On the Conversations for Our Daughters podcast the Iron Man star observed that “nowadays people can create celebrity without ever doing much besides rolling a phone on themselves.”
While he didn’t see this entirely as negative, he described it as a challenge for individuality. He added that young people should aim to build, create, and educate themselves rather than rely on influencer fame.
Despite his blunt take, Downey Jr. admitted he has met influencers who are grounded and accomplished. Still, he avoids going too deep into social media, wary of being consumed by it. Reflecting on his own 58.1 million Instagram followers, he explained that presenting an “off-the-cuff” persona often feels manufactured.
Looking ahead, Downey Jr. returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Avengers: Doomsday, this time as the villain Doctor Doom. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the film introduces Doom as the new universe-threatening adversary. Avengers: Doomsday releases on December 18, the same day as Warner Bros.’ Dune: Part Three.
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