Actor Billy Bob Thornton has laid claim to his own Joaquin Phoenix moment.

An ornery Thornton appeared on CBC Radio's Q yesterday morning to promote his band the Boxmasters and was alternately belligerent and bizarre before drawing host Jian Ghomeshi into an argument about the way his appearance on the show had been promoted.

Thornton, the band's singer, took issue with Ghomeshi's introduction to the interview, which included references to the star's career as a Hollywood actor, director and screenwriter.

Through the first half of the conversation, Thornton refused to answer any of Ghomeshi's questions directly, responding by mumbling "I don't know what you're talking about" or some variation of that.

The Oscar-winning star of Sling Blade later said that Ghomeshi had been instructed ahead of time not to talk about his film career at all.

Phoenix, who abandoned acting to pursue a career in rap music, made headlines when he sulked his way through an interview on Late Show With David Letterman earlier this year. That clip immediately achieved YouTube fame, and Thornton might not be far behind.

His Q appearance has already been posted on American gossip website TMZ, and a CBC spokesperson said the show had received over 1,600 emails and blog responses at the public broadcaster's website.

Thornton also criticized Canadian audiences during his appearance.

"They just sort of sit there. And it doesn't matter what you say to 'em.... It's mashed potatoes but no gravy."

The Canadian Press

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