Heckler gets a Joaquin from 'rapper' Phoenix (+video)

Actor turned musician Joaquin Phoenix has turned on an audience member who heckled his second outing as a rapper. Photo / AP

The wacky world of former actor Joaquin Phoenix took a nasty turn yesterday as the aspiring rapper got into a scuffle during a hip-flop gig in Miami, Florida.

Phoenix, in yet another attempt to show the world that he's serious about switching careers, jumped off the stage and confronted an audience member who was heckling him.

Decked out in his now trademark bushy beard, unkempt hair and shades, the petulant star took to the stage at LIV nightclub at Fontainebleau just before 2 a.m.

Channeling his rapper alter ego, Phoenix nodded his head in unison to the pulsating beats spun by the DJ, while uttering lyrics that were largely unintelligible. And that's when the caca hit the fan.

While being mocked by a man in the audience, Phoenix lost his cool and said, "We have a f***** a****** in the audience," while continuing to rap. "I've got millions of dollars in my f***** bank account, what do you got b****?" he added.

Phoenix then abruptly dropped his mic, dove into the audience and wrestled with the heckler, before being dragged off by security.

And while the bizarre spectacle kicked off, the crowd, who had been waiting for over four hours for the rapper to appear, chanted "Joaquin, Joaquin, Joaquin...beat him up, beat him up".

One fan said: "I saw the guy screaming at Joaquin.

"Joaquin then flipped and jumped into the crowd."

Surprise surprise, Phoenix's brother-in-law, Casey Affleck, was there to capture it all on film - all in aid of a documentary he's making about phoenix's career shift.

Which draws us to the only logical conclusion: it's all a big charade. Honestly, why else would be grow that beard? So Early Man.

Video: Joaquin's wacky heckler wrestle

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