Joaquin Phoenix Declines To Explain His Abrupt Exit From Gay Drama Film For 1 Reason

The Oscar winner made headlines last month after dropping out of Todd Haynes' planned period piece about a same-sex romance.

Joaquin Phoenix won’t be discussing his recent controversy without the affected parties.

The Oscar winner, who made headlines last month for exiting a gay drama movie just days before director Todd Haynes was set to begin filming, addressed the matter publicly for the first time Wednesday.

“I would just be sharing my opinion from my perspective and the other creatives aren’t here to say their piece, and it just doesn’t feel like that would be right,” he said at the Venice International Film Festival in Italy. “I’m not sure how that would be helpful. So, I just, I don’t think I will.”

Phoenix was in the middle of a press conference for “Joker: Folie à Deux” at the time and, flanked by director Todd Phillips and co-star Lady Gaga, shared some engrossing details about his preparation for reprising his role as the Joker in the new sequel.

Social media users are nonetheless still curious about Phoenix’s sudden departure from the unnamed Haynes film, billed as a same-sex romance between a corrupt cop and a Native American who flee 1930s Los Angeles and head to Mexico.