It’s like watching professional wrestling and asking “I wonder if that is real”.
He’s an actor. It’s what he does. Everything is a performance.
I remember my sister was desperate to watch the Glenn Campbell Show because she saw him die in True Grit and wanted to make sure he was still alive.
Andy Kauffman was 10x more entertaining and talented than Shia.. Andy Kaufman vs Jerry Lawler on David Letterman 1982 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHo_K0-1bP4
HAHA!!!