Is this portrayal by downey offensive? I thought he was the best character in the movie. I felt it was a social commentary on many levels — how do you all feel?

I think Robert Downey Jr is brilliant!

i’m not knocking Downey Junior, I thought he was good to. I am upset that The Wire was not nominated.

This is a critique not just of the glden globes but for the entertainment industry that doesn’t offer good roles to af-ams

[...] any African-American nominees? Be sure to check out Casey Gane-McCalla’s story at NewsOne. TAGS: Beyonce, cadillace records, golden globes, Robert Downey Jr., tropic [...]

This particular one as I feel reading too far between the lines. Downey’s character was a white man playing a black character…if you saw the movie, which was great! Sometimes we look for reasons to be offended, but this wasn’t one.

I PERSONALLY DON’T GIVE A DAMN ROBET DOWNEY JR. WAS GOOD I LAUGHED MY ASS OFF WATCHIN TROPIC THUNDER. AND HOW MANY BLACK PEOPLE REALLY WATCH THE GOLDEN GLOBES OR THE EMMYS ANYWAY LOL I SURE DON’T… HAAH

FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY

Robert Downey Jr was great in Tropic Thunder, and I see no reason to be offended or even bring it up, that’s just being a little too sensitive. The whole point of his role is that it was ridiculous… It is kinda messed up that nobody else got nominated, but who cares about the Golden Globes? Not me..

This is ridiculous. Robert Downey Jr was nominated as an actor not as a black man nor was the character nominated. Are we so set on finding something to be pissed off about that we will grasp at the air in hopes of grabbing on to anything?

I have seen 30 Rock and I am sorry but I have never thought that Tracy Morgan was funny as a comedian. He is a great writer though. He does his best work behind the scenes. I am sure The Wire is a great show – the cast has a lot of great actors. Being that this show airs on “additional fee” cable – I wonder if that has something to do with it. I noticed that all of the other shows up for awards are on the basic cable stations, free tv or playing at the movies.

Anyone knows the criteria for being nominated?

C’mon now, yeah, true, the brothers and sisters in the profession do get “jerked” on the awards -no question! But to cite Downey’s role in “Tropic Thunder” diminishes your point. His character’s portrayal was ridiculed as an exaggerated caricurture in the movie AND his own character’s confusion was funny as a sub-plot…the issue of blacks getting quality roles is real -and not synonymous with being snubbed by the awards by the way- but NewsOne’s choice for an example was lousy…

Robert Downey was good, this isn’t an indictment or criticism of him. Its just ironic that the only aFrican American character nominated was played by a white actor in blackface.

What the real outrage is is that THe Wire, which is not only a good black show but the best show on television was not nominated for the 5th time

I’ve seen the move and It isn’t an issue of who played the role. The fact if that it was a comedy and four actors who’s careers weren’t doing too well and would do anything to get back on top. Robert’s character in the movie wanted to role so bad he was willing to change his color with was a funny concept… Black people, we need to learn stop making big deal out of things. Instead help out those who have dreams to pursue a career in the film business, lets stop complaining and learn to help each other out.

It’s full time that these complaints about black people in general having a hard time getting what they work hard for but the world is that way crying and complaining will not help the situation, frankly it’s really frustrating seeing this article and others bearing the same subject, a black man is now the president elect it is clear that regardless of color or creed one must rely on his talents and hard work and some luck to boot I’m sure many a people have failed to realize their dream no matter what background they posses stop it it’s really stale now work for what you want and stop looking for sympathy the world owes you nothing it was here first.

I’m so sick of African Americans saying that other races are doing something to ridicule us. Just because he acted as a quote on quote “BLACK MAN” does not mean that they set it to be a racial innuendo. Come one now, not every white person is racist.

I saw the movie and to be honest if it had been a black actor it wouldn’t have been half as funny as it was. and as far as being snubbed at award shows I could actually careless granted there are many truly talented actors out there but a award doesn’t change the fact they are talented or not. if you like a actor or show you don’t base you decision to watch on emmy or golden globe awards

I loved Robert Downey Jr. in this role and making such a big deal out of something like this is nothing but hate-mungering and the African-American community needs to stop doing that. Not everything is a part of a conspiracy tyrin to keep blacks down. OBAMA is president and you wanna waste your time worrying about Hollywood. Whoever wrote this article: you’re a pathetic racist yourself since all you do is see the world in colors and thus contributing to racism

Alright. I’m black and this is the most IGNORANT thing I’ve ever heard. FIRST of all, you don’t know what blackface is, if you think what Robert Downey did in Tropic Thunder was blackface. Not only is it ridiculous to even imply that it was, it’s illegal. It was JUST the plot of the movie. It was a comedy. It was all in good fun. I’m so tired of black people making EVERY single. thing a race issue.It was just the plot of the movie. Calm down.

Did any of you watch White Chicks? If so, then what the hell is the problem? GET OFF THE RACE BUS!! The man was funny as hell and is BRILLIANT in his portrayal of this role.

I think we’re going over-board with the implication of blatant racism accusations. Robert Downey Jr. is an incredibly talented actor, and if you watch the film, the reason he underwent the surgery to become black was because it was “the most challenging role he’d ever play.” I’m sure Robert wouldn’t have done the scene if there was some sort or racial undertone implemented in the film. And knowing how Jewish Ben Stiller is, I know for certain that’s not the case.

I LOVED HIS ROLE LMAO! IT WAS F**KING HILARIOUS

I never said Downey’s role was racist. I saw the movie and enjoyed it a lot. However I just thought it was ironic that no blacks were nominated, whether it was because there we no good black roles for blacks or that the golden globes is racist.

Barack Obama was one of the few positive images we had in the media this year and I am very happy about it.

My main beef was that The Wire was not nominated for a single award for its final season. Even though this season of the wire was the worst it was stil by far the best show on television.

i so agree with this person!!!!!!!!!! some people take things to far….

“Alright. I’m black and this is the most IGNORANT thing I’ve ever heard. FIRST of all, you don’t know what blackface is, if you think what Robert Downey did in Tropic Thunder was blackface. Not only is it ridiculous to even imply that it was, it’s illegal. It was JUST the plot of the movie. It was a comedy. It was all in good fun. I’m so tired of black people making EVERY single. thing a race issue.It was just the plot of the movie. Calm down.”

I understand for the Wire issue, that is just plain ole’ unfair. But Robert Downey Jr’s proformance and black facing? HA, laughable.

At first I thought it was going to be offensive when I saw the previews but what made this so funny is he got so into the role he started to believe he was black. Plus RDJ has acted with many black actors so racism definetly wasnt a factor. The thing was he was funny…and you cant take that away from the man.

omg he played Downey’s role was very funny and he being in the movie set it off.

Well it would have been racist of Downey’s character lampooned or degraded Black people, but if anything he just lampooned other actors and I thought the role was tasteful and creative.

I am hella mad at them for not nominating “The Wire”. That’s the greatest show in the history of television. Best writing, best music, best acting, best everything. So I do agree that it’s shady that the show did not get any type of award…but that’s Hollywood for ya. They don’t care what the PEOPLE think they play their own games. You really could have written this article about how the Wire got screwed over instead of trying to hook people in with a lead that was obviously trying to get people angry. But hey, that’s usual media tricks too, if CNN and Fox can do it, so can you.

I think Jack Blacks role as a drug a buser willing to give a bj and swallow the jizz for some drugs was offensive to drug abusers, even more then downeys role as a wanna be black actor…

OK, all I can say is Robert Downey Jr.’s role in Tropic Thunder was very funny, and yes, I’m black, and I was excited when I heard he was nominated for a GG. My girl Beyonce was nominated, Blair Underwood’s sexy ass was nominated, AND Raisin in the Sun, but this article makes it seem like “the big bad white people stole from the po’ lil’ blacks” Come on, everything in America doesn’t have to be made into a race issue, unless it truly is. These GG nominations isn’t one. I think that posting this article was a waste of time. . .

And I don’t think Jack Black’s role was offensive either. . .It’s true that some drug addicts will do ANYTHING for a fix. . .And another thing, black actors have dressed like white people. . .in that case, aren’t we wrong too?

I saw nothing offensive about his role… the whole purpose was to portray actors who get too involved and some who lose control of their lives due to the fame… that’s all it was… it was hilarious and only due to Downy’s part. I think he deserves to be up for the award. I am the first to want black actors and actresses to get nominated, but honestly… there weren’t a lot of movies the past year with hit black actors and Will Smith can’t do it all by himself.

I’ve just read through the comments, and the writer of the article repeated several times that her main point was about The Wire. If that was the main point, why did it come at the end of the article in the form of a single sentence? Your headline and first two paragraphs are what lead us to believe that the problem began with Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder. Surely you can see how we’ve all misunderstood. Or did you do it that way to make sure people left lots of comments, because you seem to also agree that RDJ was great…? I must agree with a previous poster, Black face is a very different thing from what RDJ did. Very different. It saddens me to learn that anyone perceived it to be the same. He’s brilliant and I hope he wins. Although I certainly will not be watching the GGs cause really, who cares?

Oh, I have no idea if Casey is male or female. My apologies…

Another Ridiculous Topic from a “supposed” educated person…. Niggas be worried about some of the most petti s**t in da world…..It was a comedy movie…..ANDDDD WHAT DA HELL DO YOU MEAN?? ARE ALL THE ACTING JOBS GOING TO WHITE ACTORS IN BLACKFACE>>>??? ARE U SERIOUS??? WHEN WAS THE LAST ONE? LIKE THE 50′S….Stop worrying about small s**t and do something to get young hooligan ass niggas to stop listening to all this ignorant rap music and focus on school..

This is too funny.lol. This is “ONE” movie and this topic title makes it sound like ALL WHITE PEOPLE are denying Denzel (and 1,000 other wonderful black actors) from roles.LOL. RIDICULOUS.

Blackface is an actual process involving cork as shown in “Bamboozled”. The whole point in Tropic Thunder was that there was another black guy in the movie and RDJr. was playing an actor taking his craft to the ultimate–it was a goof but part of the plot.

Frankly its embarrassing when Black people cant get their facts straight and try to complain about every little thing. So what Black people didnt get nominated…make better films and choose better roles.

“A Raisin in the Sun” is 40 years old, you cannot expect to get an award for retreading old movies over and over again.

Black planet articles are for “niggaz only”. the whole point of this guys role was to be a white actor perfecting his craft by portraying a black actor “in a comedy movie”. that was the role plain and simple. if you are a black actor acting as if your acting black in a movie, its called being token (best to do it was hommie from sister sister in “not another teen movie”). unless the black character suffers from amnesia and ” acts out black steryotypes”. i doubt youll fit the role and live it out.

Downey Jr as the black guy was funny in tropic thunder. Alot of black folks think it was racist, i looked at it as just comedy period. Definitely not award worthy which dissapoints me since several actors in the wire did deserved one. It simply reveals the taste in the judges. But like someone else posted, its the GG’s who cares anyway.

deserve*

Tropic thunder was a funny movie & I was not at all offended by Downey playing the white guy in “black face” it is not that serious,& when it comes to the Gonden Globes LOL who really watches that…we all know there are many great black actors; as long as we acknowledge that & support them thats all that matters.

I don’t know how the one example from Tropic Thunder qualifies this discussion as a Blackface discussion – there was just the one, right? And was it racist when Eddie Murphy or Wayans brothers dressed up in whiteface? Well, as for 30 Rock, the two who got nominated are actually funny – Tracey Morgan is like some foolish overdone negro from nowhere and is rarely ever funny – even the scrawny white errand boy is funnier than Tracy Morgan. Maybe black actors need to step their game up.

At first I didnt understand the point of this article. But I understand now. It is not the fact that Robert Downey played blackface, its the fact that he got nominated for playing that character while no other significant award went to ANY black people. They have shunned us many times in THEIR award shows and this is just another example. It just happened to be that the author focused on Robert Downey as an ironic example that black people cant even get an award but a white person PLAYING a black man can get a nomination. Its just an example people!!!

They’re just on Downey Jr’s tip right now because he’s the comeback kid and had some great success with Iron Man. Now he performs a great comic role and shows his versatility. He took advantage of his comeback popularity and it paid off. Im not mad him. Well done.

i smell classic racism in tv awards shows. they will nominate a white guy impersonatin a black man in a movie (and not doin a good job at it…hes basically makin fun of black people and gettin away with it. tell me this aint a modernized minstrel show) but they wont nominate real black actors or actresses. thats f**ked up! i cant believe this s**t.