Robert Downey Jr. recently shared his thoughts on Elon Musk, urging the tech billionaire to “control his behavior.” During an interview on the On With Kara Swisher podcast, Downey Jr. addressed Musk’s increasingly public presence and antics. While the Iron Man star acknowledged the frequent comparisons between Musk and his iconic character, Tony Stark, he expressed concerns over Musk’s current actions. “I’ve only met him a few times. I just wish that he would control his behavior a little more,” Downey Jr. remarked.
Musk has often been linked to the Tony Stark persona, with director Jon Favreau even admitting in 2016 that Musk partly inspired the character in the Iron Man films. Favreau had spent time with Musk during the making of Iron Man 2 and was allowed to film a scene at SpaceX. However, Downey Jr. now seems to be drawing a line, commenting on Musk’s recent decisions, including his public support for Donald Trump and controversial social media behavior.
Downey Jr. also criticized Musk’s mindset around colonizing Mars, saying, “This idea of ‘It’s all okay because we’ve gotta get to Mars’ doesn’t really hold water with me.” Despite these critiques, the actor did acknowledge Musk’s achievements, emphasizing, “You have to look at all that [Musk has] done that demonstrates why he’s valuable.” He reflected on the challenge of separating public figures from their actions, noting how the current information age often divides people rather than fostering constructive discussions.
Downey Jr.’s comments highlight a broader tension between celebrity behavior and public perception, especially for figures like Musk who are often linked to larger-than-life personas. As both a tech visionary and a prominent public figure, Musk’s actions continue to draw attention, with Downey Jr. offering a cautionary note on how such influence should be managed.
