Bodog Beat

We believed it too – at first. Joaquin Phoenix's story that he's apparently quitting acting and embarking on a rap career, seems a little too crazy to be true. Then, Entertainment Weekly reported that Phoenix's rap career is one giant "punk" on the media.

"Either Phoenix is perpetrating an elaborate Andy Kaufman-style hoax (with an assist from his friend and brother-in-law Casey Affleck, (who's ostensibly shooting a documentary about his career transition), or he's truly lost his marbles. The truth, it seems, is closer to the former. 'He said, 'It's a put-on. I'm going to pretend to have a meltdown and change careers, and Casey is going to film it,' says one source who recently worked with Phoenix."

So either Joaquin Phoenix or his new alter ego appeared on the David Letterman Show last night, and Letterman just wasn't having it. Phoenix appeared out of it, mumbling one-word answers to questions and seemed on another planet until Letterman began mocking him.

"Maybe I'll come to your house some night and chew gum," he snapped at Phoenix, who took the gum out and stuck it under Letterman's desk.

"Joaquin, I'm sorry you couldn't be here tonight," Letterman said to audience laughter as he wrapped up the interview.