Burger King helped me beat addiction, Robert Downey Jr. says

Daily News ^ | 6/9/08 | AMANDA PENTLER

[Dawnsblood]

Robert Downey Jr. has publicly thanked Burger King for helping him overcome his problems with addiction. The fast food chain, he says, also helped to resurrect his career.

The fast food epiphany happened in 2003 when the "Iron Man" star was driving a car piled with "tons of f---ing dope," Downey Jr. told Britain's Empire magazine. The actor decided to pull over for a burger and everything changed.

"I have to thank Burger King," he said. "It was such a disgusting burger I ordered. I had that, and this big soda, and I thought something really bad was going to happen." Downey Jr. says he then tossed all of his drugs into the ocean, deciding right then and there to clean up his act.

Downey Jr. hints that a fateful moment in "Iron Man," when his character Tony Stark requests a cheeseburger from Burger King after being released from his captors, is a reference to his own experiences.

[TADSLOS]

[Paladin2]

A whopper minus the mayo won’t kill you. It’s the coke and fries.

[colorado tanker]

"I have to thank Burger King," he said. "It was such a disgusting burger I ordered. I had that, and this big soda, and I thought something really bad was going to happen." Downey Jr. says he then tossed all of his drugs into the ocean, deciding right then and there to clean up his act.

Okey doke.

I guess you have to consider his mind was then under a whole lotta influences.

[SampleMan]

"I have to thank Burger King," he said. "It was such a disgusting burger I ordered.

I'm sure they'll be thrilled with that endorsement.

[My Favorite Headache]

I bet the execs at the British Knights Lounge were thrilled to hear this news until they read Downey calling their hamburger disgusting.

I like BK.

[My Favorite Headache]

BK fries are about the worst fries in fast food nation.

[Mr. Jeeves]

"I have to thank Burger King," he said. "It was such a disgusting burger I ordered."

Nice endorsement. ;)

[x]

[Biblebelter]

Another one of those feel good stories, kinda like how Mickey D’s helped resurrect Kato Kaelin’s career.

[SES1066]

"I have to thank Burger King," he said. "It was such a disgusting burger I ordered. I had that, and this big soda, and I thought something really bad was going to happen."

Without context it is hard to understand what Downey means. I interpret it as that he found the LEGAL AND 'disgusting'ly GOOD Burger King burger good reason to toss his addictive but life-destroying drugs into the sea. I salute his decision and wish him the best!

[boogerbear]

It’s actually not too far removed from a lot of epiphany moments for ex-drug users. That sudden moment when they realize their life is kind of gross. Usually it has to do with their furniture and barf but I suppose realizing you’re eating nasty food and doing so entirely because you’re on drugs counts.

[weegee]

If Obama fought the Burger King, which new god would win?

[Political Junkie Too]

Maybe he should talk to David Hasslehoff about the burger thing.

-PJ

[SES1066]

Unfortunately I find the “Burger King” mask a total turn-off. Ronald MacDonald is so much better and humanized. Somehow that facial expression on the mask just makes me puke. I think this corporate symbol needs a rework ASAP!

[rabidralph]

I hope he gets a spokesman deal like Jared.

[Joiseydude]

Kato Kaelin’s career

Kato Kaelin had a career?

Wow, you learn something new everyday.

[Pylon]

You would have to be on drugs to eat at Burger King.

Of course there King mascot will drive you to drugs.

[Rastus]

Another quote from another story about the Burger King incident:

"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," he said.

[rabidralph]

They are, aren’t they? And they were bad before they took out the transfat and when they had that burger distributer e. coli scare in the ‘90s.