Actors Who Sparked Outrage by Defending Old Problematic Roles

In the comedy ‘Tropic Thunder,’ Robert Downey Jr. played Kirk Lazarus, an Australian actor who controversially darkened his skin for a role using blackface. Downey has repeatedly explained that the performance was meant to satirize the film industry and the self-importance of actors, and that it wasn’t intended to be racist. He also shared that most of his Black friends thought the portrayal was a successful satire, and that the film was a commentary on Hollywood culture.






