Jonah Hill is opening up about the “paranoia” that comes with being a famous person, especially in the age of social media scrutiny.
While promoting his new Apple TV film Outcome, which tackles themes of public shame and reputation fallout, he explained how his own experiences in the spotlight inspired the film.
“I was relating what I was seeing with my nephews on social media to the paranoia I felt as a famous person,” he told AP News on April 6. Hill went on to explain that the younger generation, as witnessed with his nephews, tends to place “more concern on their public perception” than how they’re perceived by their close friends and family members.
“I was like, ‘Wow…That’s what I’ve seen certain elements of fame be like,’” he said, relating it back to his personal experience in the spotlight. “I wanted to explore that in the movie.”
Hill is no stranger to cancel culture. In July of 2023, the Superbad star faced widespread backlash over text messages released from his former girlfriend, Sarah Brady. The messages painted Hill in a “controlling” light, according to much of the public, who felt as though the actor was weaponizing “therapy speak” in order to get away with unacceptable behavior.
The Wolf of Wall Street alum has mostly stayed under the radar following this experience in 2023, yet now, he is exploring themes of cancellation and redemption in Apple TV’s Outcome.
In the film, Keanu Reeves stars as a celebrity who is about to lose it all after a compromising video exposes his true nature, which completely contradicts his public persona. Will he be able to redeem himself from his past mistakes or is there no turning back? The film premieres April 10 on Apple TV.
