Joaquin Phoenix says rap career is going 'terrible'

From USA Weekend

Joaquin Phoenix knows his new career as a rap artist is going badly. "Terrible," is how he described it to a handful of reporters, including our Nancy Mills, when they talked earlier this week. In fact, a much-publicized gig in Las Vegas last month was such a disaster — Phoenix fell off the stage — people assumed that the whole rapper idea was a hoax or a joke. But Phoenix insisted he's serious and the fall happened because "there were lights everywhere right in your eyes. I literally just went to step off the thing and misjudged and slipped down. I wasn't messed up. I was so nervous it’s all kind of a blur."

Fortunately, Phoenix doesn't care what people think about the career switch. “It’s not about ‘success’ or ‘good,’” he says. “It doesn’t matter to me. I didn’t act because I wanted people to say I was good.” And he claimed to be surprised that anyone cared whether he quit acting. "I didn’t realize it would be such a big deal,” he said, throwing in a few expletives. “It’s not my dissatisfaction with acting. I just don’t feel challenged or excited about acting any more. I don’t enjoy the process any more. I’m not complaining that acting ruined me. I have a good life. But I have to do what’s right for me.”