Two Lovers director James Gray has hit out at the film’s star Joaquin Phoenix - insisting the actor is “making a fool of himself” by launching a rap career.

Phoenix recently announced he has quit acting in order to become a hip-hop-star and has since made a string of bizarre public appearances.

Last month (Feb09) the actor sported a scraggly beard, hid behind sunglasses, chewed gum and gave brief answers as he promoted Two Lovers on Late Show With David Letterman.

And Gray is furious with Phoenix for failing to cooperate with the TV host - because his strange actions drew public attention away from the film.

He says, “It’s like, Letterman was trying to get the movie out there, but the only thing that’s out there now is a crazy person with a beard making a fool of himself!” Internet gossips have speculated that Phoenix’s turn as a rapper is a hoax, and the rumours were fuelled when it was revealed the star’s brother-in-law, Casey Affleck, is filming his musical efforts for a documentary.

But Gray fears the Oscar nominee is taking his new project seriously.

He adds, “I’ve seen him in his house, and he has his own recording studio that he built right there. So if this is a hoax, then it’s the most elaborate thing that I have ever seen.

“If it is shown to be a hoax, then that’s great, because Joaquin will come back to acting. And he is something special. But if it isn’t, you know, I think he needs, well, help.”

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UPDATE: HERE’S THE VIDEO!

Joaquin Phoenix’s bizarre antics continued Wednesday at a hip-hop show in Miami.

Sporting a disheveled dark suit and smoking a cigarette, the scraggly-bearded Phoenix, 34, got on stage around 1:50 a.m. at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel’s nightclub.

Nodding to the music, he was barely audible as he began rapping to a beat played by the DJ.

Near the end of his first number, Phoenix walked to the edge of the right side of the stage and called out an audience member whom he thought was heckling him.

“Bitch,” Phoenix yelled. “This is a $3,000 f—–g suit!”

He then jumped into the crowd as security rushed after him.

It was unclear whether the two men scuffled, but security dragged Phoenix away as the crowd chanted “Joaquin! Joaquin! Joaquin!’”

His brother-in-law, Casey Affleck — who is making a documentary about Phoenix’s career leap from acting to rapping — filmed the entire incident.

Phoenix’s wacky antics — which include a bizarre Feb. 11 Late Show With David Letterman appearance — may be part of an elaborate hoax.

But Paul Dobransky — a relationships expert and author of The Secret Psychology of How We Fall in Love — recently told the Los Angeles Times that Phoenix could also be schizophrenic, pointing to his “socially inappropriate behavior”

His rep denied the claims: “How absolutely inappropriate for a doctor who has no personal interaction or relationship with someone to diagnose them.”

Still, fans can’t get over Phoenix’s unkempt appearance.

A club-goer Wednesday told Usmagazine.com, “He looks like he needs a shower. Is he doing a Geico commercial? He looks like a fancy caveman!”

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A rep for Joaquin Phoenix is slamming a Chicago-based psychiatrist for suggesting that the actor-turned-rapper, 34, is mentally ill.

Paul Dobransky — a relationships expert and author of The Secret Psychology of How We Fall in Love — told the Los Angeles Times that Phoenix may be schizophrenic, pointing to his “socially inappropriate behavior,” including a new rap career, bushy beard and a bizarre Late Show appearance.

But Phoenix’s rep tells MTV News: “How absolutely inappropriate for a doctor who has no personal interaction or relationship with someone to diagnose them.”

“And to do so in a public forum,” the rep adds. “Hope they spelled his name right. Another 15-minute ‘expert’ is born!”

But Dobransky came to Phoenix’s defense in the Times interview, even saying that he was “pretty offended” by Ben Stiller’s portrayal of Phoenix at the Oscars. He said it seemed as if Stiller was “potentially beating down on the mentally ill.”

“The jury is not exactly in on what is happening,” Dobransky said of Phoenix, whom many speculate is pulling an elaborate hoax. “Whatever it is, it’s not funny — whether it’s drug abuse, mental illness coming on or the clumsiest attempt ever at a career change.”

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Ben Stiller’s impersonation of Joaquin Phoenix at the Oscars was a last minute addition to the show - because the Tropic Thunder star refused to stick to official script.

Stiller appeared alongside Natalie Portman to introduce the nominees for the Best Cinematography award at Sunday’s (22Feb09) Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

And Stiller shocked the star-studded crowd by wearing a scruffy fake beard and wandering aimlessly around the stage, mocking Phoenix’ recent string of bizarre public appearances since the Gladiator star ‘quit acting’ to focus on his rap career.

But the gag only made the cut because Stiller had “a meltdown” at rehearsals on Saturday, “because he was unhappy with the script and decided he could do better,” according to New York Post gossip column PageSix.

A source tells the publication, “Ben refused to tell them what he planned until he arrived at the Kodak Theatre, and then he did that Joaquin Phoenix bit.”

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This video is CRAZY!

Joaquin Phoenix’s bizarre antics continued on Wednesday’s Late Show With David Letterman (watch video, above).

While promoting his new movie Two Lovers, the star, 34, hiding his face in sunglasses and a heavy beard, spoke in monosyllables, didn’t smile and mumbled his way through the interview.

At one point, Letterman joked: “What can you tell us about your days with the Unabomber?”

When Letterman asked about Phoenix’s new rap career, the star said, “I’d love to be on the show and perform.”

Letterman shot back, “You know, that seems unlikely.”

Toward the end of the interview, Letterman heckled Phoenix about chewing gum while chatting. Phoenix then put his gum under Letterman’s desk.

“Joaquin, I’m sorry you couldn’t be here tonight,” Letterman said as the interview came to an end.

Phoenix announced last year that he was retiring from acting to pursue a hip hop career. Some have speculated that Phoenix’s recent wacky antics are part of an elaborate hoax.

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Actor Casey Affleck checks into Los Angeles International Airport with some camera equipment as he prepares to direct a documentary about his brother-in-law, and “retired” actor, Joaquin Phoenix and his transition from acting to the music world. A disheveled Joaquin Phoenix arrives separately and looks a bit worn for wear.

Bauer Griffin

Joaquin Phoenix’s rep is denying reports that his rap career is a hoax.

See the videos of Joaquin rapping here.

“The transition from one career to another is never seamless. It should come as no surprise to anyone that Joaquin came from a musical family, in addition to winning a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Johnny Cash,” his rep tells MTV News. “He intends on exploring his musical interests despite speculative, negative or positive reactions.”

Entertainment Weekly had previously reported that Phoenix — along with brother-in-law Casey Affleck — was playing an elaborate, Andy Kaufman-esque prank on the media (and that his publicists were a part of it).

Phoenix — who’s been sporting a heavy beard lately and announced he was retiring from acting three months ago — shocked fans when he hopped on stage Jan. 16 at Las Vegas club LAVO and rapped.

The act was filmed by Affleck for a documentary about Phoenix’s transition to music.

“It seemed like the rapping was part of playing to the camera,” a witness told Us of Phoenix’s performance.

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