# Billy Bob Thornton is a sad, little man **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 9, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458 "2009-04-09T00:12:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/41 "2009-04-09T21:46:31Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > It’s also kind of baffling that Thornton is pretty polite, direct, and normal during the last 1/3 of the interview. I didn’t really see that. My impression was that he really took his acting being mentioned badly, and only made passable responses once he believed the interviewer had “atoned” for his error. He still couldn’t pass up on some snark, but at least he was answering questions. All I see in this interview is an extremely juvenile response to what seemed to be a perfectly reasonable introduction. I could understand some annoyance if the band is a guest on the show and the interviewer was fixated on his acting career, but that was not the case. Aside from some contextual stuff in the introduction, the interviewer seemed happy to concentrate on talking about music. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/42 "2009-04-09T21:50:19Z")
The Smoking Gun had some legal papers up once from one of BBT’s divorces. Dude is diagnosed bipolar and refuses to medicate for it. Pretty much explains his raging assholism. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/43 "2009-04-09T22:39:03Z")
On watching it again, I get the impression that the main reason Thornton was upset was not necessarily the fact in and of itself that the interviewer had referred to his acting career - it was that he had done so _even though Thornton had requested that it not be brought up._ Of course, it’s a pretty petty request, and it certainly doesn’t justify his behavior, but I wonder if he would have been equally snide if the interviewer had introduced him as an actor and Billy Bob hadn’t explicitly asked that this not be done before the interview. It seems he was more pissed that they had disobeyed his instruction than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/44 "2009-04-09T22:43:56Z")
Yeah but, from what I remember, the guy didn’t know wtf Billy Bob was talking about when he said he had been “instructed” (how rude) not to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/45 "2009-04-09T22:48:37Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > And thanks **Gorsnak** and **Juniper200**. I had no idea that Jian founded Moxy Fruvous… I love the Bargainville CD. Gzowski loved Moxy Fruvous, and it’s my theory that the reason Jian got Morningside’s old time slot is that Peter’s up there somewhere pulling strings for him. 🙂 I saw the guys in the University of Manitoba student bar back when they were selling that indie demo tape. They were a hoot. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/46 "2009-04-09T23:35:21Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > On watching it again, I get the impression that the main reason Thornton was upset was not necessarily the fact in and of itself that the interviewer had referred to his acting career - it was that he had done so _even though Thornton had requested that it not be brought up._ Right, but I think the interviewer had interpreted that as meaning the _interview_ was to be solely about the music (which indeed it was), not that no mention of Billy Bob’s secret other life was to be tolerated. I mean honestly, who’d expect anyone to be that precious about it? It’s massively hypocritical in any case - the only reason he has the sway to make that sort of demand is precisely because of who he is. Indeed, that’s the main reason his band is even getting attention (it certainly isn’t for his singing or drumming skills). No-name startup bands don’t get to “instruct” interviewers as to what they will and won’t talk about, so even as he’s getting shirty about his acting career being mentioned _en passant_, he’s milking it for all it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/47 "2009-04-10T02:20:53Z")
Yeah, I think the guy had been instructed not to ask questions about his acting, as he only said it in the beginning and then talked about how he was just putting him “in context” for the listeners. BBT was such a dick, that was hard to watch. My friend won Best Blues Guitarist whatever from Guitar Center in 2007, got to meet him (amongst others like Clapton! still, whole nother story) and said he was nothing but kickass and nice, very outgoing. Obviously a bi-polar guy in his other mood. I still will watch a movie with him in it, but damn, props to that interviewer for showing such constraint. I did like BBT telling the guy that Canada was like mashed potatoes without the gravy, and him bringing up how they actually do have gravy, and it could be considered the national food. Man, that guy was great! ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/48 "2009-04-10T02:26:59Z")
I would have said, “You know Joachin Phoenix already did this, Bill.” ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/49 "2009-04-10T02:47:50Z")
The CBC, both TV and radio, has been having a blast cutting up Billy-Bob since the interview. ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/50 "2009-04-10T02:57:01Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > If I was the interviewer, I would have calmly said, “what the fuck does that monster magazine stuff have anything to do with what I asked you about?” In the same tone of voice that he was using. Why did he put up with that ridiculous digression? The guy was giving Billy Bob waaaayyyyy to much slack. I wouldn’t have been intimidated by his celebrity, because I can’t take anyone with one of those soul patches seriously. The likelihood that Jian Gomeshi was intimidated by Billy Bob Thornton’s “celebrity” is about zero. As others have mentioned elsewhere in the thread, the band that Gomeshi was in sold more albums than Thornton could ever dream of. The show that he hosts, Q, is a national daily arts and culture program on CBC Radio, and he has interviewed about a bazillion people that are a bigger deal than Thornton, from the music industry and elsewhere. He also has a weekly column in a national newspaper. Why did he put up with Thornton you ask? Unlike Thornton, Gomeshi is a professional. (And yeah, Canadian too). It’s a great show, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/51 "2009-04-10T03:40:10Z")
Billy-Bob then went on to lose it again in the middle of his performance later that evening: [Breaking News - Headlines & Top Stories | The Star](http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/616601) > [@](#): > > Billy Bob Thornton elicited boos and catcalls tonight at Massey Hall as he attempted to explain his bizarre behaviour during an interview on CBC Radio on Wednesday. . . . . The explanation was met by further boos and catcalls of, “Here comes the gravy,” . . . . Jian had some interesting comments later that day: [Breaking News - Headlines & Top Stories | The Star](http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/616601) > [@](#): > > Ghomeshi also said it would have been irresponsible to his audience not to mention Thornton’s acting past during his introduction (he did not ask any questions about acting during the interview). > > “Our policy is that we don’t allow anybody to tell us what we can and cannot say,” said Ghomeshi. "Beyond that, it was this notion and the language that he used during the interview that I thought was unfortunate, that we were `instructed’ to say this and that. And I think that does raise interesting questions about ideas around how much journalism is to be controlled, especially when it comes to arts and entertainment and culture, and I think that’s that a concern. > > “The reality is, and I tried to explain this in the interview, these guys have only been together for two years. You just don’t get the kind of national press they are getting without the incentive being something like his career past… And I think if he could graciously accept that and say, `Hey, I want to focus on the music, but I get that the reason we’re here is because I’m a movie star that’s won an Oscar.’ There’s not a lot of people who can say that.” ---
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/52 "2009-04-10T03:43:23Z")
I knew nothing about Jian before, and he is now my new hero, and I must learn everything. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/53 "2009-04-10T03:52:26Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > On watching it again, I get the impression that the main reason Thornton was upset was not necessarily the fact in and of itself that the interviewer had referred to his acting career - it was that he had done so _even though Thornton had requested that it not be brought up._ Of course, it’s a pretty petty request, and it certainly doesn’t justify his behavior, but I wonder if he would have been equally snide if the interviewer had introduced him as an actor and Billy Bob hadn’t explicitly asked that this not be done before the interview. It seems he was more pissed that they had disobeyed his instruction than anything else. 1. It seemed to me that Ghomeshi was surprised at the suggestion that he was “instructed.” 2. I agree, as you say, that it would be a petty request, but it would also be a ridiculous and completely idiotic request. You can’t ask an interviewer to pretend he doesn’t know who you are. Ghomeshi was right, without that context, the audience would be thinking “WTF? Is that the actor Billy Bob Thornton? If so, why isn’t anyone saying that it’s the same guy?” It would just sound bizarre to the audience. 3. It would be unethical for a person in Ghomeshi’s position to pretend he didn’t know about Thornton’s other career. 4. For Pete’s sake, Ghomeshi wasn’t harping on Thornton’s movie career. All he did was mention it in the introduction. 5. Perhaps, just perhaps, I can see it just a leeetle bit from Thornton’s point of view. He doesn’t want his musical effort to be treated as some kind of hobby. He doesn’t consider himself a dabbler. But, still, he could have shown the same amount of professionalism as Ghomeshi did in reacting to it. 6. What Ghomeshi could have said to Thornton’s bizarre Tom Petty rant was “Yes, if Tom Petty came in to discuss his acting career, I would introduce him by saying that he is primarily known for his successful music career.” ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/54 "2009-04-10T03:54:26Z")
The guy is mentally ill, I think. After reading a little more about him, I don’t regard him as an asshole so much as someone with a psychological condition. It seems that he is bi-polar. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/55 "2009-04-10T05:00:15Z")
am I the only one whose seen this? > **[Chopper Chicks in Zombietown (1989) ⭐ 4.1 | Comedy, Horror](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103959/)** > > 1h 26m | R ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/56 "2009-04-10T06:50:20Z")
He is absolutely having an episode. He seemed somewhere between stoned and paranoid. The thing about monster model kits is just… call to find some bed space for him. And another “Didn’t know much about Ghomeshi before this but now I love the guy”; he’s what’s sorely lacking in 99% of U.S. interview shows. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/57 "2009-04-10T06:56:14Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > “I’ve pretty much always been a music historian”. Except of course for the never gave a damn about music, more into monster magazines part. Dude is just not home. I’d have given $5000 to hear Ghomeshi ask > [@](#): > > So just as I asked Tom Petty last week, did music help take your mind off the fact Angelina Jolie is fucking Brad Pitt now? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/58 "2009-04-10T08:42:03Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > You mean to watch them beat the shit out of each other on stage. I don’t think it would be much of a fight. It would just be Crowe beating the shit out of the other two. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/59 "2009-04-11T14:53:55Z")
[Billy Bob Hightails It for the Border: Drops Canadian dates on Willie Nelson tour](http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/616937) > [@](#): > > Maybe the mashed potatoes don’t want any gravy. > > Billy Bob Thornton and his band the Boxmasters, after being booed by Toronto fans angered by his likening Canadian audiences to “mashed potatoes with no gravy” in a bizarre interview with the CBC, dropped the two remaining Canadian dates of Willie Nelson’s tour – Montreal last night and London tonight. > … > When it was announced at the Nelson concert last night in Montreal that Thornton was no longer in the lineup, which also included Ray Price, there was loud applause, according to several concertgoers. But it’s got nothing to do with the CBC interview and being heckled by the mashed potatos. One of the Boxmasters has the flu. The flu. Right. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458/60 "2009-04-11T15:18:12Z")
He’s just acting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-bob-thornton-is-a-sad-little-man/492458.md?page=4)