More than eighteen months after his bearded and monosyllabic appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, Joaquin Phoenix has returned to the popular talk show to explain his extraordinary antics.

We now know, of course, that Phoenix’ putative rap career was an extended stunt pulled to give brother-in-law Casey Affleck’s mockumentary a sheen of authenticity. Affleck finally came clean about I’m Still Here shortly after it debuted a fortnight ago.

Appearing clean-shaven and devoid of his ridiculous glasses, Phoenix claimed that he had expected an interviewer with Letterman’s experience to see through his persona immediately. The veteran talk show host responded by saying that Phoenix’ behaviour had been reminiscent of someone who’d fallen and hit their head in the bath. Charming.