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Billy Bob Thornton Booed in Canada

Billy Bob Thornton's behavior at a Canadian radio station has come back to haunt him.

According to the Toronto Star, The Boxmasters singer/songwriter was booed on stage at their show in Toronto Thursday night. The performance came the night after the country-rock trio gave an awkward interview with CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi, during which Thornton was elusive during the first half of the interview ... but then angrily confronted Ghomeshi for referring to his acting career. (Read a synopsis of the interview that went awry here.)

The Boxmasters were three songs into their set Thursday when Thornton said to the crowd, "It seems as if when I say something, it's in the news." That drew a shouting of boos from the audience, to which Thornton said, "Boo all you want, but I want to say something ... We're really happy to be here, but I talked to this a--hole yesterday. He and his producers say, 'We promise you we won't say that' [referring to his acting career]. The very first thing they said was that.

"I don't really like sensationalism," he continued. "If you look someone in the eyes and promise them something, and you don't do it, you don't get the interview. That's the way it goes."

The audience apparently didn't like Thornton's explanation of his behavior. They met that statement with more boos and cries of "Here comes the gravy," a reference to Thornton's description, in the same CBC interview, of Canadian audiences being like "mashed potatoes with no gravy."

Thornton was on the defense about that analogy, as well. "I was talking about the guy who was interviewing me," he told the Toronto Star, adding that he "loves Canada."

The Boxmasters were on tour with Willie Nelson (someone Thornton claimed in the CBC interview to have "never really met") and Ray Price. But as of Friday, they are no longer on the bill. A statement on Willie's official website reads, "It has been reported that Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters will not be continuing the Canadian tour with Willie and Ray. At this time, no reasons have been announced but the remainder of the tour will continue as scheduled without The Boxmasters."


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smclaugmac

I fell bad for the real musicians in his band. He hung them out to dry. If the radio show wanted a good interview they should have given the bass player, Danny Baker(aka Unknown Hinson) a microphone. He'd have set them straight about Chart Toppin Hits.

April 17 2009 at 12:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sherry

OMG - Billy Bob Thorton did something weird?! How so not like him! And he's not an actor - he's just a musician who plays one on movies. The day we figure this guy out will be never.

April 13 2009 at 9:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
oleheat

It's obvious Thorton heaps waaay more credit on himself than he deserves. I'm offering an apology to all our friends north of the border on behalf of this jerk....

April 12 2009 at 10:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
krisann

Unbelievable. There is no excuse for what BBT did. How could an interview be given to a musical group with an acting celebrity without some sort of mention - since everyone would wonder "is that the same Billy Bob Thornton? Jian simply gave it a mention. I give tremendous credit to Jian for the class he had with his replies. He maintained his integrity in the interview in spite of the horrible reaction of BBT. It definately speaks to each mans level of maturity.

April 12 2009 at 7:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Allie

We all knew Billy Boy has been a weirdo for sometime, this incident confirms it. He needs to stick to acting (which I'm a fan of, BTW) and cut the dramatic diva attitude.

April 12 2009 at 5:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
haole boy

What a PUNK !!! The boxmasters have a celebrity member of their band. They go on interviews to further their exposure. The rest of the band can play at the interview but not Billy Bob Prima Donna? The guy is a squirrel. I feel bad for the musicians. What the hell was the "Monster contest" answer all about? His reaction wasn't because of the interviewer, Billy Donna's just a moron.

April 12 2009 at 12:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
paula

What difference would it make whether someone mentions his acting career? Everyone knows Billy Bob is an actor. I felt so sorry for Jian.....B.B.T was unforgivably rude and only made himself look like an ass. I really liked Billy Bob before this interview.

April 12 2009 at 10:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply