Robert Downey Jr. tells Jimmy Kimmel 'keep going' after Oscars joke about drug use (original) (raw)

The "Oppenheimer" nominee reacted to Kimmel's joke about the "highest points" of Downey's career.

Updated on March 10, 2024 11:57PM EDT

Jimmy Kimmel's opening monologue got a very specific response from Robert Downey Jr. at Sunday's Oscars.

The host kicked off the show with a bit of crowd work (as usual), turning his attention to the Oppenheimer nominee after roasting the audience for not voting Barbie helmer Greta Gerwig into the Best Director category.

"This is the highest point of Robert Downey Jr.'s long and illustrious career — well, one of the highest points," Kimmel said, referencing the actor's sobriety after he previously struggled with substance abuse.

Jimmy Kimmel at Oscars; Robert Downey Jr. on Oscars red carpet.

Rich Polk/Variety via Getty; Aliah Anderson/Getty

When the camera cut to Downey, he put his finger on his nose while his Oppenheimer costar Emily Blunt laughed and patted him on the shoulders.

"Is that too on-the-nose, or is that a drug motion you're making?" Kimmel quipped, to which Downey replied, "Keep it going, keep it going" as he made a rolling motion with his fingers.

It was unclear whether or not Downey was in on the joke. The Iron Man series star famously walked out of an interview for Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015, after a reporter asked him about drugs.

EW has reached out to representatives for Downey for comment.

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