Robert Downey Jr. isn't buying the idea that influencers are the future of celebrity.
During a recent appearance on the Conversations for our Daughters podcast, the Oppenheimer star pushed back against the notion that social media personalities are replacing traditional stars.
"When I hear people talk about, 'Oh, the stars of the future are going to be influencers,'" the 61-year-old actor said, "I go, 'I don't know what world you're living in, but I think that that is absolute horses--t.'"
Downey acknowledged that the path to fame has changed dramatically since his own rise in the late '70s and early '80s. Back then, he noted, the competition felt less daunting, whereas now "people can create celebrity without ever doing much besides rolling a phone on themselves."
Still, he doesn't view the shift as entirely negative, calling it "more like the challenge for individuation is being upped." He expressed hope that the next generation will seek out more meaningful pursuits.
"Hopefully, the grosser part of the youth is going to say, 'Yeah, but that's not my thing. I want to go do something. I want to make something. I want to build something.'"
The Marvel star also shared that his 13-year-old son, Exton, briefly got caught up in influencer culture, asking for donations while playing video games. Downey likened modern influencers to "evangelical hucksters of the information age," though he admitted he doesn't fully judge the trend, noting that "we're playing in this new territory."
Despite his skepticism, influencer culture remains a lucrative industry, with some creators earning millions on platforms like OnlyFans.