X17 News

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Oscar nominated actor Joaquin Phoenix showed up at the premiere for his new film "Two Lovers" with the words "Bye!" and "Good" written on his knuckles.

This follows the actor telling members of the press that he has decided to quit acting.

"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.

"Two Lovers" is his last film, he said. His publicist had disclosed Friday that the actor intended to focus on music.

The actor first talked about quitting with a reporter from Extra! earlier this week while at a fundraiser in San Francisco.

Phoenix was nominated for an Oscar in 2006 for his portrayal of singer Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line," an received a supporting actor nomination for "Gladiator" in 2000.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) -Casey Affleck is set to document Joaquin Phoenix's attempt to reinvent himself as a rapper.

Affleck is directing a feature-length documentary about his friend's transition from life as an actor to that of a musician, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Phoenix, who shocked Hollywood with the news he was giving up acting, is working on an album with Sean Combs. His first performance is scheduled for tonight in Las Vegas.

Affleck has previously directed several short films that have aired on the Sundance Channel.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - A spokesperson for Joaquin Pheonix says the Academy Award nominated actor's decision to give up the movie business and become a rapper is entirely real.

Rumors have been circulating around the internet this week that Phoenix was pulling an elaborate practical joke.

"The transition from one career to another is never seamless. It should come as no surprise to anyone that Joaquin came from a musical family, in addition to winning a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Johnny Cash," Susan Patricola wrote in an e-mail to MTV.

"He intends on exploring his musical interests despite speculative, negative or positive reactions."

Some claim this denial may be part of the rouse.

Entertainment Weekly reports that Phoenix views this as "an art project" and has involved his agents, publicists and even his brother-in-law Casey Affleck, who is directing a "documentary" on Phoenix's attempt at a rap career.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Joaquin Phoenix's continued efforts to reinvent himself as a rapper took another strange turn last night in Miami.

A big crowd started lining up around 10 p.m. for Joaquin's performance at LIV in the Fountainebleu hotel.

The concert was scheduled to start at 11p.m, but it was nearly 3 hours later before Joaquin finally stumbled on stage. He was disheveled and wore a black suit with sneakers and sunglasses that appeared to have been broken then taped back together.

According to video of the event, most of his "lyrics" were completely unintelligible. After singing the first song, a guy in the crowd started heckling Phoenix. Phoenix immediately stopped rapping and told the crowd "We have a (double-expletive) in the audience.”

Phoenix and the man exchanged expletive-filled barbs for nearly 20 seconds. Phoenix then dropped his microphone on the floor and jumped off stage. The two wrestled around before security grabbed Joaquin and hauled him backstage, ending the show just minutes after it began.

MANHATTAN, New York (X17online) - Joaquin Phoenix has returned to the Late Show With David Letterman to tell host, David Letterman, that he's sorry for acting wacky during his last appearance.

Phoenix, 35, appeared on the Late Show last February in character. We now know it was for the mockumentary I'm Still Here. Director Casey Affleck says that Letterman was in on the act the whole time.

However on last night's show, Phoenix tells Letterman:

“I mean, I think that you’ve interviewed many, many people, and I assumed that you would know the difference between a character and a real person, so – but I apologize. I didn’t – I hope I didn’t offend you in any way…”

In response, Letterman jokes:

“Oh, no – oh, no, no, no. I was not offended. I’m telling you, it was so much fun. It was batting practice, you know what I mean? Every one of them was a dinger.”