Jimmy Kimmel Sympathizes With Billy Bob’s Bad Behavior

I like that his defense is that he's always a dick. Um, FAIL.

JinxyMcDeath

There was a pre-arranged agreement that the "journalist" wouldn't bring up these topics, and only focus on the band. The guy broke the agreement. There is ample precedent for interviews being terminated for such a violation.

Jackie_Earl_Daily

No wonder Sarah Silverman broke up with him.

East20th

Billy Bob just seems really dickish.
I can understand acting out of an interviewer says something rude or offensive, but that wasn't the case. The guy said nice things about you - get over it. A good portion of the interviews/attention this band receives is due to the fact that Billy Bob's an actor.

yep, still an asshole.

Is it just me or is Kimmel always a rather crappy interviewer? That's the impression I'm under after seeing glimpses of his show. I can't be bothered to listen to him for more than 5 minutes, tops.

I am so angry at Billy Bob Thorton for making me find him so sexy in spite of his ridiculous antics.

Billy Bob is a surley, rude little shit.

porto-hottie

Oh, Kimmel, you brown-noser. Too bad this is the only time you guys in the States will hear about that radio show. "Q" is definitely one of the best in Canada.

sybaritic

He should have just whipped out an antique chair, that would have shut BBT's ass up!

I_b_hatin

It seems Kimmel had the gravy to go with the mashed potatos. Or the brown-nosing to go with desperation for attention. Either one really.

Deborah2000

This Canadian applauds Jian Ghomeshi for his ability to deal with this jerk in such a uncompromising yet tactful way. Jimmy Kimmel on the other hand.. pandering to the man's delusions of grandeur? It's despicable.

Mayonegg

My theory is that Billy Bob is such a Method actor, he never got over playing Bad Santa. It's the only he seems to play anymore, whether in movies or in real life.

mharker

Jian Ghomeshi (the Canadian interviewer in question) was clearly not sufficiently embedded.

Cellotape

Other music "careers" that Billy Bob should refer to when considering his own: Bruce Willis, Don Johnson, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy.

What? Ok, Kimmel, you fail. The DJ never even asked Billy Bob Fuckwit about his career; he simply mentioned, while introducing the members of the band, that BBT is an Academy-Award nominated actor, which is relevant considering that nobody would give a shit about his music group otherwise.

And what, now journalists are supposed to avoid any topic that might injure the fragile ego of some self-centered Hollywood asshole? Sorry, if they're going to try to pimp out whatever they're selling, then they need to also be prepared for questions they might be uncomfortable discussing. It's called freedom of the press and these Hollywood idiots need to be reminded of that.

Vivi21

Billy Bob, you acted like a total douche. Just own up to your douchey ways and let this incident go.

Considering Jimmy used to work in radio, I would HOPE that was sarcasm

TriedandTrue

Let me join the echo chamber: Sarcasm!

@Samanthrax is Sarcastic: JOKESSS

Maybe he was being sarcastic.

@Jackie_Earl_Daily: Okay, but to be fair, all the interviewer did was mention that he was an actor in the intro (and it kind of would have been weird not to mention that fact) and then went on with the music-themed questions.

It was Billy Bob that completely derailed the interview and ruined it for the rest of the band by being a petulant ass. I'm assuming that the reason he made those requests in the first place was to take to focus off of himself, but with this behaviour he managed to make it all about himself.

PersonalBest

Billy Bob takes himself a little too seriously for my taste.

The best part about this whole kerfuffle was that Billy Bob left the next day and never played his remaining Canadian shows because "the band had come down with the flu". No. I think you're too afraid of Canadian gravy.

The thing that annoyed me the most about BBT's douchetastic antics on the radio was his complete lack of respect for his fellow bandmates. There were two other members of his band there for that interview and his idiocy totally undermined anything those musicians might have wanted to say. Can you imagine trying to work with that man? Ugh.

@TriedandTrue: I don't know, doesn't association with The Man Show cast you in the category of 'douche' forever and ever?

jollydolly

@Jackie_Earl_Daily:
a) the whole "don't talk about my acting, because I'm REAL" demand was bullshit in the first place - as Ghomeshi pointed out, your ass wouldn't be on Q if you weren't BBT, Oscar winner, in the first place.

b) Ghomeshi said, in the intro, "Award winning actor and screenwriter BBT" and that's all it took for BBT to lose the plot and start throwing shit around like an angry child. He didn't say "Here's BBT, an actor who thinks he can sing" or "Let's find out why BBT is in a band now - what a freak!!" Making a reference in an intro is not refusing to focus on the band.

But the good thing to come out of it, as another poster has pointed out, is the chance to say "Would you ask Tom Petty that question?" when someone offends you.

jollydolly

@ Hamsterpants:

Don't forget about Eddie Murphy, Telly Savalas, Keanu Reeves, Burt Reynolds, Terrence Howard and Joe Pesci.

I think at this point Jimmy Kimmel is happy just to be there.

Seandi1

Jian Ghomeshi and the CBC do not take instructions. If BBT wanted to control his interviews, he should stick to the arse-licking American entertainment talk shows.

Good thing he wasn't on George Strombo, or there might have been a beat-down.

p.s. - we could see his drum set in the video background which makes his tantrum even more ridiculous.

@Jackie_Earl_Daily: The ONLY reason Thorton was being interviewed at all was because of his acting/screenwriting career. It is not outrageous for the interviewer to have brought this up in the intro. He's a dick, simple as that.

7states

@Jackie_Earl_Daily: If BBT really cared about his band he wouldn't have been so ridiculous and sulky for the rest of the interview. It was not terminated. It's 13 minutes long, and BBT basically acts weird the whole time, taking all the attention away from his bandmates.

MissMoneypenny

The story I heard was Billy Bob was told not to smoke outside & it pissed him off.

AllieCaulfield

I didn't think it was possible, but my hatred for Jimmy Kimmel continues to grow.

Erinthebitch

@Southpaw:
I can't be bothered to listen to Kimmel for 5 seconds. It's amazing to me that this boob has a show. Ditto Carson Daly.

AllieCaulfield

@MissMoneypenny: If he really cared about his band's success, he wouldn't have taken the opportunity to alienate the listening audience as well (re: Canadians are like "mashed potatoes without the gravy"). I personally don't really care about those kinds of cracks, but I think a lot of people would be sensitive and dismiss the band because of it. It's a pretty stupid thing to say to the audience when you're doing publicity.

PersonalBest

This is Straight from LaineyGossip: "You are a humpbacked geek

So Kimmel is allowed to call him an "actor" but Jian Ghomeshi, a Canadian, no way. That's the standard.

Here's the thing - Jian introduced him for context as an actor. Period.

But Billy Bob Thornton justified his douchebaggery on CBC radio last night by explaining that he was promised that he would not be asked about his "acting". That CBC radio broke the rules which is why he was so terribly rude.

Please.

He wasn't f-cking asked about his acting.

Now I normally love Kimmel. But it was gross to me that Kimmel decided to jump up BBT's ass. Disgusting. And who are the people in the audience clapping for that piece of sh-t?

I hate people.

As for you and me, for those who discussed his shenanigans and watched the clip on YouTube, Billy Bob has a name for us.

We are Humpbacked Geeks."

She puts it better than I can.

Mayonegg

I was at the Willie Nelson show that night and Billy Bob's band is actually quite good.

If he actually wants people to focus on his music he has kind of cut off his nose to spite his face. Now people aren't ignoring his music because of his accomplishments in Holywood, they are ignoring his music to focus on what an asshole he can be.

Ellabella

@Jackie_Earl_Daily: In a TV interview, Ghomeshi might have been able to get away with not noting BBT's other career as the audience would have been able to place the face. This was radio. How effective of a band promo would this have been with the audience sitting there wondering if the BBT question was indeed the famous actor instead of just some random with a famous name instead of paying attention to the interview and the music?

Then he went on to insult Canadian audiences, got booed off the stage later that night and the band ended up canceling the rest of their Canadian dates. So, in all, his douchey behaviour just hurt his peeps.

I loved how they looked like they wanted to take BBT out back and shoot him throughout the interview.

TheBumbler

@Mayonegg: Class act that man. Jian that is. (no sarcasm here)

And for BBT, if he wants to be in the public eye, he has do deal with the repurcussions. It's not like we're talking paparazzi pictures of him in his backyard, he was doing press for one of his projects.

Celebrities are brands (Oprah, Britney, etc.), you can't exploit the fact that you're a brand one day, and reject it the next. It's just not how the game works.

@BabyJane: Jamie Foxx... we can go forever!

MarissaExplainsItAll

@bibomaco: He could easily just change his hair etc/ wear a hat and play under a different name. If he wants out of the spotlight, it is possible.

Mayonegg

@Vivi21: what you said - in spades. Giving someone shit for doing their job is inexcusable - I will never have one iota of respect for this douchebag ever again.

@Hamsterpants: You forgot Eddie Murphy...

MarissaExplainsItAll

@TriedandTrue: I'm pretty sure he was. But to be fair, he only did sports. Kevin and Bean do the interveiws.

MarissaExplainsItAll

@Jackie_Earl_Daily: As the radio station reported afterwards, BBT wanted an agreement to be made, but the radio host said that hasn't ever nor will be done. So no, he didn't "break" any agreement, there wasn't one to begin with. BBT was just trying his damndest to save face.

Ghomeshi did his job as was intended.

@Jackie_Earl_Daily: The DJ has also stated that he was not made aware of any agreements made with the agent and the Program Director. Even if the DJ WAS aware of it, that does not give BBT the right to be such a jerk. He could have let it slide or even commented off air.

TriedandTrue

@Jackie_Earl_Daily: I believe BBT used the word 'instructed,' which is pretty fucking presumptuous. This wasn't Entertainment Tonight.

HeatherNumber1

@BadHairLife: Oh I just WISH that had happened on the Hour. I wish. George is my hero. But Jian has definitely claimed that title too.

thecameralovesyou

I'm not sure I'd call the interviewer a DJ (though maybe I'm wrong). It's not like he was interviewing Billy Bob between Top 40 hits and ads for sports bars or anything - he was hosting an in-depth arts program for a government radio station.

HeatherNumber1

His band is really great. And I have met him and he is a gentleman and a sweetheart.

CreampuffTKO

@HeatherNumber1: No, you're totally right - I'd call Jian a journalist. A journalist and a god damn legend. /Jian crushing

WYLD STALLIONZ!! Woot!

@BadHairLife: Really? I am glad it wasn't on The Hour, because although I dearly love my boyfriend, George, I find he is a little soft on the stars... I don't reallymind, but sometimes I wish there were tougher questions being thrown at the guests.

@Jackie_Earl_Daily: Bullshit. No such agreement was made. BB is a douchebag who's trying to get away with being a rude-ass douchebag. And his music sucks. The only reason he gets attention for it is because of his acting.

@MarissaExplainsItAll: Scroll down until you get to the album covers!

[www.dyers.org]

@Mayonegg:

I was about to drivel on with my own rant, but Lainey did this for me. What she said.

Now you're going to see the damage control - the fakery bullshite that BBT will pour on. He's going to be on the Bonnie Hunt show on Friday. I love her, and know she's an honest person, but I fear it will be all laughs and aww sucks, those humpback geeks don't know nothin'...come see my movie and lets be friends.

@Hamsterpants: Kevin Bacon, Keanu Reeves....oh there are so many!

@Jackie_Earl_Daily: "Journalist?" Was that really necessary?

Jian handled the situation with aplomb. He admitted on the show that he was asked "not to focus" on questions about BB's acting career, and he didn't. And as someone who listens to Q almost every morning, I don't imagine he was going to. He's a former musician, loves to talk about music, and avoids sensationalism.

Did anyone listen to the show the day after? He played "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty. He also told us that it wasn't "6 in the morning," as Billy Bob said, but after 9.

garconne

@Samanthrax is Sarcastic: He was! He said it was a joke. A bad, stupid joke.

@Mayonegg: So true, why doesn't he have a pseudonym?
Oh that's right, because his band wouldn't be where they are today without his celebrity.

When you milk your celebrity, you can expect other people to milk it too.

Not sure if that made any sense.

@I_b_hatin: HA! Nice reference!

Chicklet

@AuntieBee: That being said - I would totally pay to watch George Stroumboulopoulos beating the crap out of Billy Bob Thorton.

eibhinn

@sybaritic: Word to that. It's one of the best radio shows, period. I'm a daily Q listener [via the web.] Billy Bob is a rude, self-important asshole.

sassenach

@Jackie_Earl_Daily: Well the interview wasn't terminated. Instead, BBT acted like a jackass for the entire 13 minute interview. It would have been acceptable in my eyes if BBT asked to take a break reamed out Jian off air, and then either left the studio or continued the interview like the professional he is supposed to be. But instead, he ruined the entire interview by being surly and sulky.

MuffinBreak

@AuntieBee: Hey, George isn't your boyfriend, he's MY boyfriend! He says so every night.

enileve

@CreampuffTKO: No, he isn't. He was just nice to you.

@AuntieBee: STEP OFF LADIES

@Jackie_Earl_Daily: Didn't actually watch it, huh.

@bibomaco:

This is not the point, I realize, but I feel compelled to say that Jian, from what I know about him, is actually a bit of an ass.

He did handle this particular situation well, though. Just saying.

thatlush

Since the interviewer agreed not to mention Billy Bob's acting career I can't help but think it was simply bad manners to immediately mention it. Yes BB could have handled it better, but if the interviewer was serious about not being gagged he shouldn't have agreed to it the first place.

Can't help but think it was a little refreshing to see a celeb blow up and be (albeit insultingly) real instead of smiling and answering through gritted teeth.

bjorky79

Jian Ghomeshi is not a Canadian "DJ", but a well informed and well respected radio host of a popular Arts and Culture show, "Q", on CBC Radio One.

SujataFoote

I like how Kimmel is laughing as Billy goes on like a total asshole, and the audience is dead silent for almost the entire interview. Acting like a piece of shit isn't funny.

Arline

@Mayonegg: Go Jian! CBC rocks! I don't know about the other Canadians, but maybe we should just ban BBT from the country. I have never seen a film he's been in. We probably don't need him.

VedetteWolf

there are no pre-arranged questions or pre-approval on scripts at the CBC - guest are basically informed on the interview format. So no agreement was broken, BBT would not have been a guest on "Q" had he not been an Oscar winner, actor as he has a long way to go before he is considered worthy to wipe Tom Petty's musical boots.

YaffaGrimlock

Hm, I don't get the impulse to snark on Billy Bob.. So what if he blew a fuse at some random DJ? (Lest we forget, his ex, Angelina, had her handlers force journalists to sign a promise that they wouldn't ask about her personal life, when she was promoting A Mighty Heart..) His music is not as crappy as y'all make it sound... I heard some songs on NPR recently, as far as singing actors go, he was not bad at all. Plus, I am biased: I met him once, and found him a total gentleman, very charming and friendly in that old-fashioned Southern way. You go, Billy B!

@SuzyBee: And the executive producer of Q has stated that they never agreed to any conditions prior to the interview.

hurdygurdygirl

@SuzyBee: According to the article on the Entertainment Weekly site, BBT's publicist stated on the record that "while it's true Thornton does not like to be asked about his movie career while he's out promoting his band, Ghomeshi was never "instructed" to avoid the topic. "Bottom line: we don't tell people what questions they can or cannot ask," Robinson says."

hurdygurdygirl