Rdj's blackface portrayal in Tropic Thunder was a satire of a fictional white actor using blackface, not a genuine return to the repugnant practice of blackface in cinema. Tropic Thunder mocked Hollywood's problems, including whitewashing and using serious subjects for profit, with the Rdj blackface being portrayed as part of the overall outrageousness of the industry. While the Rdj blackface didn't receive major backlash, Tropic Thunder faced controversy for its portrayal of a differently abled character and the use of a derogatory slur, highlighting the narrow line between poignancy and offensiveness.

The Tropic Thunder blackface was a memorable moment from the movie, but didn't receive a major backlash or cause any real controversy for Robert Downey Jr. or the movie. The 2008 movie was a hit comedy that satirized Hollywood in some pointed and hilarious ways. One of the subjects addressed was the tendency of "method actors" to take their roles...