"“Nowadays, people can create celebrity without ever doing much besides rolling a phone on themselves,” Downey said. “I don't look at that as a negative thing. I just look at it as more like the challenge for individuation is being upped.”"
"“When I hear people talk about, 'Oh, the stars of the future are going to be influencers,' I go, 'I don't know what world you're living in, but I think that that is absolute horseshit,'” he added."
"Downey shared that he saw his own 14-year-old son get “caught up in this whole influencer thing.” “Next thing you know, it's like, 'Hey, if you like the way I'm playing this video game, do you wanna send me a donation?' And really, it becomes a religion,” Downey"
Robert Downey Jr. has achieved major fame through traditional acting success, including acclaimed films and blockbuster franchises. Social media has made celebrity more accessible, with some musicians and filmmakers gaining early attention through TikTok and YouTube. Downey rejects the idea that influencers will become the stars of the future, calling it “absolute horseshit.” He says creating celebrity without much effort is now possible, and frames the change as a greater challenge for individuation. He also describes how influencer culture can capture young people, turning engagement into something like a religion, including requests for donations tied to personal content.
Read at Fast Company
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