Robert Downey Jr. has said he’s going vegan “for legumes.” The Iron Man actor stars in the 2020 film “Dolittle” produced by his wife, Susan Downey.
Downey Jr. made the comments while the couple was speaking to Variety at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles.
“She is the greatest creative producer in the history of cinema,” Downey said of his wife. “And I make faces for cash and chicken. Even though no, I’m off chicken now.”
“Not chicken anymore,” added Susan Downey.
“I’m going plant-based! For cash and legumes,” joked Downey.
The actor is known for his role as Tony Stark—aka Iron Man—in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At Amazon’s 2019 Re:MARS conference, Downey announced that his foundation, the Footprint Coalition, would launch by April 2020.
The organization says it will use advanced technologies to clean up the environment. “Between robotics and nanotechnology, we could clean up the planet significantly, if not totally, in 10 years,” said Downey.
“I have this quiet sense of crisis,” he added, saying that he felt conscious of his own contribution to the ongoing climate crisis. “I’m a one-man carbon footprint nightmare colossus.”
Hollywood Goes Vegan
Downey is not alone in his concern for the environment or enthusiasm for a vegan diet. Multiple awards ceremonies have gone meat-free in an attempt to minimize their environmental impact.
The 77th annual Golden Globes served a 100 percent plant-based menu which was well received by guests including Best Supporting Actor winner Brad Pitt.
“The climate crisis is surrounding us and we were thinking about the new year and the new decade. So we started talking between us about what we can do to send a signal,” Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) president Lorenzo Soria said in a statement.
Soria continued, “We don’t think we’ll change the world with one meal, but we decided to take small steps to bring awareness.”
Both the 2020 Critics Choice Awards and the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will also be serving entirely vegan menus at their ceremonies.
