ROBERT Downey Jr. has stepped out on the red carpet in high-heeled shoes years after sporting the same style while filming Iron Man.
The Oscar-winning actor donned the high-heeled footwear while walking the red carpet at the Los Angeles Premiere of the HBO Original Limited Series The Sympathizer.
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The series stars Robert, 59, with Old Boy director Park Chan-wook working as showrunner.
The Sherlock Holmes actor’s wife Susan Downey is also an executive producer on the show.
On Wednesday, Robert looked the epitome of cool as he arrived at Paramount Theater in tinted, aviator sunglasses and a large lapeled, beige suit.
He paired the suit with a see-through, sheer button-up and a shiny black leather belt.
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The Oppenheimer actor ditched the tie, as he did at the 96th Academy Awards, and completed the outfit with a pair of pointed, black, high-heeled shoes.
Fans first noticed Robert wearing high heels on the set of Iron Man.
He portrayed the lead character, “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” Tony Stark, and used the lifts to give the character a vertical boost for shots filmed from the waist up.
Robert seemingly favored the higher altitude and has been sporting lifts, high heels, and platforms in some fashion or another ever since.
Fans on Reddit commented on the fashion choice after Robert’s on-set photos became widespread and the Avengers actor began wearing the high heels to Hollywood events.
One person wrote, “I know RDJ started to wear the high heels when he became Iron Man, but I didn’t [think] some of his shoes actually looked like women’s high heels.”
Another Redditor commented, “I mean, honestly, the dude is very clearly wearing 3-inch heels in public. It’s not like he’s wearing shoes with hidden lifts. It almost makes me respect him more.”
Robert sported similar, high-heeled footwear at the 2024 Oscars, where he paired the shoes with a black tux and a bolo tie.
UNNECESSARY SNUB
In February, Robert was slammed for seemingly snubbing Ke Huy Quan while accepting his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
The actor won the award for his role in Oppenheimer at the awards ceremony.
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Robert was met on stage by five past Best Supporting Actor winners — Sam Rockwell, Tim Robbins, Christoph Waltz, Mahershala Ali, and last year’s winner, Ke Huy.
It is a tradition at the Oscars for the last person who won the accolade to hand it over to the new recipient.
Ke Huy – who won the award for Everything Everywhere All at Once – excitedly called Robert’s name and beamed as the actor took to the stage.
The Chaplin star failed to make eye contact with Ke Huy and breezed past him as he collected the award.
Instead, Robert shook hands with Tim Robbins and fist-bumped Sam Rockwell, while Ke Huy was left holding the envelope he’d attempted to hand over.
In his speech, Robert failed to mention Ke Huy, other than to thank the “fellas” on the stage behind him.
Viewers slammed the actor for his supposedly rude treatment of Ke Huy.
“I love that Robert Downey Jr. received his much-deserved Oscar award but the way he ignored Ke Huy Quan is so sad,” one wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“I know he maintains his ‘Tony Stark’ kind of personality but this was rude.”
“He literally handed him the award with the biggest smile on his face and Robert blatantly ignored him,” another added.
“Robert Downey Jr. completely ignored Oscar-winner, Ke Huy Quan, who presented him with his Oscar,” a third posted.
JIMMY’S JOKE
Earlier in the ceremony, Jimmy Kimmel came under fire for making a crass joke about Robert’s past drug use.
Late-night talk show host Jimmy, 50, reflected on Robert’s success thanks to his role in Oppenheimer.
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He said, “This is the highest point of Robert’s long illustrious career- well, one of the highest,” motioning to his nose.
Robert then pointed to his own nose, seeming to be a good sport, and the audience nervously laughed.
“Was that too on the nose or a drug motion you made?” Jimmy asked him.
He added, “But look at him, he’s so handsome, so talented, he’s won every award there is to win. Is that an acceptance speech in your pocket, or do you have a very rectangular pe*is?”
At that point, Robert stared at the host, looking stoic and disappointed.
Some viewers were unimpressed with the jibe and vowed to “turn off” the TV.
Robert has credited his wife, Susan, with saving his life and helping his career get back, and stay, on track.
While accepting his award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Oppenheimer on March 10, 2024, Robert gave his wife a shout-out.
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy, in that order,” Robert said before thanking Susan for “bringing him back to life.”
The Hollywood couple have been married since 2005 and live together in Malibu, California.
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