JOAQUIN PHOENIX was involved in a huge brawl while performing at a Miami night club last night, wrestling a heckler to the ground before being dragged off by security. The actor-turned-rapper, 34, jumped off the stage mid-way through his appearance to confront the mouthy audience member. An enraged Joaquin, sounding a little more coherent than in recent times, announced: “We have a fucking bitch in the audience.” Nodding his head while rapping to a beat, he told the man: “I’ve got $1million in the bank. What have you got bitch?” Joaquin – who sources say arrived four hours late for the gig at the LIV night club in the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel – then launched himself into the crowd. The crowd chanted “beat him up, beat him up” as Joaquin got stuck in. The incident took place at around 2am. Joaquin was in his usual get-up of suit, dirty trainers and taped-up sunglasses along with his now-trademark scruffy beard. One fan said: “I saw the guy screaming at Joaquin. Joaquin then flipped and jumped into the crowd.”

You may recall that the last time Joaquin attempted a live rap performance, things didn’t go very smoothly then either. Instead of falling his ass off the stage like last time, Joaquin thought it best to jump off the stage this time … and then proceed to whip some ass. After the jump, check out the video of this bizarre incident …

I’m pretty sure that Joaquin’s ridiculously tiresome behavior is being paraded around town to try and inspire people to take notice and mebbe check out this film. For me, the opposite is true. I am so unimpressed by this bullshizz he’s trying to pull … his interview with David Letterman last night only made him look like a complete asshole. Sooo not impressed. I know that I will take a pass on seeing this film … despite all the pretty people who came out in support of it last night. And for the record, the woman in the third photo is NOT Hilary Swank … she’s just a creepy twin named Vinessa Shaw. But anyways, back on topic, I’m not sure if Joaquin’s antics are really resonating with anyone else but I’m not buying it. Andy Kaufman did it so much better … Joaquin, you are no Andy Kaufman.

[Photo credit: Wireimage]

Doth the rep protest too much? In the wake of Entertainment Weekly’s having speculated Wednesday that Joaquin Phoenix – with the aid of his brother-in-law, Casey Affleck – was performing an elaborate ruse regarding his transition from Oscar-nominated actor to falling-off-the-stage rapper, Affleck’s rep said this career switch is no hoax at all. In a statement to PEOPLE on Thursday, the spokeswoman said, “I believe the transition from one career to another is never smooth. Unfortunately, Joaquin has had to make this transition in the spotlight of fame.” She added, “He comes from a musical family and won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his portrayal of Johnny Cash. He intends to explore his musical interests despite speculative, negative or positive reactions.” As for Affleck, who has been filming Phoenix around L.A., his rep says, “Casey intends to document this transition and hopes to create an unprecedented, intimate portrait of a very private yet famous person.”

Now, I don’t know whether he’s really serious or if this is just another component of a suspected elaborate hoax … but I do know that Joaquin Phoenix appears to have lost his damn mind. When a person goes from being an accomplished Academy Award nominee to lookin’ like a smelly hobo in the span of just a couple of years … well … hoax or not, I think he’s flipped his wig. Whatever the hell is going on, I can’t wait to see what he tries to pull off next. I suspect there is more wacky fun to come from Joaquin Phoenix.

[Photo credit: Getty; Source]

As forewarned, Joaquin Phoenix appeared at a Las Vegas nightclub this weekend to turn in his debut performance as the world’s newest actor-turned-rap-star. “This is me saying this is who I am. This is my story,” Phoenix announced before launching into his set. However, despite industry coaching courtesy of Diddy, a recent dance-off win under his belt and a couple Oscar nods, the would-be J. Pheezy’s performance failed to generate much more than a few embarrassing viral videos. While it wouldn’t be fair to say Phoenix totally crashed and burned, he at least accomplished the former. After a few semi-coherent songs, Phoenix closed the show by tumbling off the stage. Apart from the usual YouTube footage, the whole thing was caught on tape by Phoenix’s pal and brother-in-law, Casey Affleck — who, as previously reported, is helming a (fake?) documentary about Phoenix’s switch from A-list actor to fledgling musician. “After all the years of reading scripts and reading lines, this is my chance to do something straight from the heart and put it out there,” Phoenix said during his show. “When I was young I liked punk rock music but then I discovered rap. I love the storytelling aspect of hip-hop.” Since saying “Bye! Good!” to Hollywood in November, it seems Phoenix has at least been lucid enough to realize that most people aren’t taking his new career seriously (unless his new career is becoming the world’s foremost guerilla mockumentarian, in which case we’re totally taking him seriously. Somewhere under that musty toque and matted beard, we’re hoping Phoenix’s comedic mind cogs are simply a few steps ahead of the rest of us). “Are there people out there who think I’m a joke? I’m sure there will be,” Phoenix told People magazine backstage before the show — and, subsequently, before he (quite jokily) fell off the stage. “Are there people who think it’s going to suck? Probably, but I can’t worry about that.”

Either Joaquin absolutely knows what he is doing and has yet to clue us in on his grand scheme for his new artistic plans or he has plumb done lost his mind. Here is video of Joaquin rapping on stage in Vegas over the weekend:

Three years ago, Joaquin Phoenix was the toast of Hollywood. With millions of female fans and critical acclaim for his Oscar-nominated performance in Walk The Line, Joaquin was one of the biggest names in Tinseltown. But, as these pictures show, the troubled star who recently announced his retirement from acting, has suffered a spectacular fall from grace. The 34-year-old star looked dishevelled and bloated when spotted partying in Miami Beach, Florida on Monday night. Wearing a ladies’ hairclip to tie back his scraggy hair and his chiselled jaw covered up with a long, bushy beard, Phoenix looked a world away from the handsome Roman Emperor Commodus in 2000 epic Gladiator. Joining him at the Liv nightclub was brother-in-law Casey Affleck, director Brett Ratner, actor/singer Jamie Foxx and hip-hop mogul Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs. A source with close ties to the actor says worries are mounting for his health, sanity and well-being after a particularly troubled 2008. The source told Mail Online: “For people who know Joaquin, it’s been an incredibly traumatic year, filled with chaos. Everyone wants to help but nobody’s been able to break through. His bizarre behaviour has everyone worried. It’s just getting scary.” After a spell in rehab in 2005 and his recent erratic behaviour, the actor is cutting an increasing bizarre figure on the Hollywood social scene. Earlier this year, Phoenix disappointed his Two Lovers co-star Gwyneth Paltrow and fans by snubbing the film’s world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May and the subsequent premieres around Europe. The Puerto Rican-born star received critical acclaim for his portrayal of a New York bachelor torn between two women in the independent movie, but it was left to Paltrow to promote the film alone. The official line released by his publicist for him not attending the Cannes premiere was he was suffering from stomach flu. Friends of the actor, including Paltrow, have been growing increasingly concerned about his recent behaviour. The source adds: “Gwyneth is somebody who tried to reach out to Joaquin after he no-showed their movie premiere in Cannes. But he just wasn’t responsive.” Since announcing in October he was quitting acting to become a full-time musician, Phoenix appears to have piled on the pounds and given up on his personal grooming. In recent weeks, Phoenix has been hitting the clubs and bars of Los Angeles with aplomb, prompting the worries among close friends. The source said: “Joaquin has rejected everything that has come along with Hollywood stardom, the acclaim, the attention, and the artistic opportunities.”

Well, it doesn’t look like he rejected everything that comes with the trappings of celebrity. He really does look a bit wrecked … when you start looking like Mel Gibson when he was at his craziest, well, you’re in trubs. Here’s hoping that Joaquin manages to clean up his act … or her person, at the very least … and gets his life back in order. He is such a stunning talent, I’d hate to see him waste his life away.

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The writing on Joaquin Phoenix’s fists said it all. The words “Good Bye” were penned on the actor’s knuckles at a premiere Saturday night for his latest film, “Two Lovers,” and Phoenix confirmed a surprise announcement he made last week: He’s giving up movies. “I think it’s just moving on. It’s rediscovering something else,” said Phoenix, 34, said in an interview with Associated Press Television News before Saturday’s American Film Institute festival, which also premiered “Che,” starring Benicio Del Toro. “Two Lovers” is his last film, he said. His publicist had disclosed Friday that the actor intended to focus on music. Phoenix first mentioned his decision to “Extra” early last week at a fundraiser in San Francisco. He abruptly ended that interview after the reporter wondered whether he was joking about giving up acting for music. Phoenix learned to play guitar and did his own singing to play country legend Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line,” which earned him an Academy Award nomination. His publicist also said Phoenix has been directing music videos in recent years. “It’s like greener pastures, you know what I mean?” Phoenix said Saturday. “And so, I’m just going to try and like, I’ll just be doing the other thing. … Hopefully, I will emotionally impact you with that, as well.”

I mean, you know a man is serious about what he says when he takes the time to write it out on his knuckles with a Sharpie marker. I gotta say … altho Joaquin can be a bit of an odd bird (as the writing on his knuckles betray) he is a pretty spectacular actor. I thought he gave an amazing performance in Walk the Line and generally like his films overall. I’m not sure homie will enjoy as much success with his music career as he has with his acting career but … stranger things have happened. All I have to say to Joaquin on his new endeavor is, Luck! Good.

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