Robert Downey Jr. In Blackface

Huh.  Who knew Robert Downey Jr. was a Republican?

Actor Robert Downey Jr. (R) is shown wearing blackface in a scene with co-star Ben Stiller from the upcoming film ‘Tropic Thunder’ in this undated publicity photo released to Reuters August 11, 2008.

Of course, there is this:

“I have a really interesting political point of view, and it’s not always something I say too loud at dinner tables here, but you can’t go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary and really understand it and come out a liberal. You can’t. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone else, but it was very, very, very educational for me and has informed my proclivities and politics every since.”

(Suffice it to say he is not one of the Hollywood types who weeps over innocents trapped behind bars.)

As for the “controversy” itself, it’s a non-issue.  If black guys can portray white chicks, there’s nothing wrong with a white guy portraying a black guy.