Billy Bob Thornton Throws Tantrum in Toronto

Guest on CBC's Studio Q, Actor Takes Offence to Being Called Actor

Apr 9, 2009

Fancying himself as musically talented as Tom Petty, Billy Bob Thornton gives Studio Q's Jian Ghomeshi the shaft for mentioning his acting career.

American actor Billy Bob Thornton, known for movies like Bad Santa, Bad News Bears, and the bad tattoo of his name ex-wife Angelina Jolie once had on her arm, appeared on CBC's Studio Q yesterday with a bad attitude.

On the show Wednesday morning to promote his “mod-billy” band The Boxmasters, Thornton threw a temper tantrum when Toronto host Jian Ghomeshi asked questions Thornton didn't like. At first mention of Thronton's film career (as Ghomeshi calmly explained to Thornton, to provide context to listeners) the offended actor said he didn't know what the host was talking about.

Billy Bob Thornton Rudely Avoided Host's Questions

Throughout most of the interview Thornton avoided Ghomeshi's questions. And the host remained perplexed. One of the conversations went like this:

Luckily an embarrassed band mate piped in confirming Ghomeshi's question of whether the band formed two years ago.

Thornton's holier-than-thou attitude continued as he claimed he didn't know country legend Willie Nelson though he is currently touring with him.

Tom Petty and Billy Bob's Monster Magazine

The most listeners heard from Thornton was a rant about a monster magazine he subscribed to as a kid, flat out ignoring Ghomeshi's question's about the actor's musical interests. When Ghomeshi tried one last time to talk about the music, Thornton replied, “Would you say that to Tom Petty?”

Thornton finally completely lost his cool and told Ghomeshi was he is and isn't allowed to talk about.

“You're instructed not to talk about shit like that,” he said. He was offended, feeling Ghomeshi did not hold him to the same high standard as the big-name Traveling Wilbury.

Thornton Is Not The Only Actor to Turn Musician

Whether he likes it or not, like Joaquin Pheonix (who recently appeared on The David Letterman Show with a similarly bad attitude) and Keanu Reeves, if you start a music career while you are already a well-known Hollywood actor, that is how journalists, radio hosts, and the general public will relate to you. Especially when most of those people have never even heard of your band.

Other Hollywood actor/musicians:

Thornton's bad attitude may have been drug-induced, or maybe he is just a spoiled brat. Regardless of the reason for his embarrassing behaviour, perhaps he succeeded in promoting the Boxmaster's newest record, the third released this year, Mod Billy.

The video of the interview is being posted on the internet under the name Billy Bob Thornton Blow Up on Q-TV.

The copyright of the article Billy Bob Thornton Throws Tantrum in Toronto in Film Stars is owned by Jenn Hardy. Permission to republish Billy Bob Thornton Throws Tantrum in Toronto in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Apr 9, 2009 10:54 AM

Guest :

Billy was a total ass, it was embarrassing for his fellow bandmates, and put a bad atmosphere around the band itself.
The Q interviewer did an outstanding job of being polite even as Billy continued to degrade into a complete ignoramus.
The man is bad enough at acting, no one has ever heard he is a musician and now he is officially the worst interviewee ever. Pathetic.

Apr 14, 2009 6:34 PM

Guest :

billy boy may be wearing an adult body, but his brain is that of a spoilt, imature bonehead.