Robert Downey Jr. hits out at influencer culture

Robert Downey Jr. has stirred conversation after sharing his unfiltered views on how fame is changing in the digital age.

During his latest chat, the veteran actor took aim at the idea that influencers are the “stars of the future,” labeling the claim “absolute horseshit.”

On the Conversations for our Daughters podcast, the Iron Man star said people today can gain fame simply by recording themselves on a phone, without necessarily building a traditional craft or skill.

He went on to add that he does not see this as entirely negative, but rather as a shift that challenges people to define their individuality more clearly,

“When I hear people say influencers are the future stars, I don’t agree with that. People should want to make something, educate themselves, and have more to offer than just self-promotion.”

Moreover, he shared a personal example involving his teenage son, saying he briefly became interested in influencer-style content around gaming and online donations.

Additionally, Downey compared some aspects of influencer culture to “Evangelical hucksters of the information age,” while also noting that many influencers he has met are grounded and professional.

For the unfamiliar, the actor has over 58 million Instagram followers.

However despite his massive online presence he admits he tries to stay away from being too active on social media refusing to project a fake version of himself for attention.

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