In what may go down as one of the most transparently scripted PR stunts in recent Marvel history, Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. appeared on Good Morning America to deliver a glowing endorsement of Disney’s upcoming Ironheart series.
The problem? The internet reaction has been visibly negative for this show.
The original Ironheart trailer racked up over 521K dislikes on YouTube to just 217K likes. The second trailer hasn’t fared much better, with more than 70K dislikes to 45K likes and critical comments flooding the replies. Viewers are openly mocking the show’s tone, CGI, and premise.
Robert Downey Jr calls in to say “Iron Man loves Ironheart” – YouTube, Good Morning America
Downey’s short video message, read from what was clearly a prepared statement, featured him fawning over Dominique Thorne before awkwardly tossing in a joke about Parker Robbins, aka “The Hood,” possibly replacing him as Doctor Doom.
The segment ended with Downey declaring, “Iron Man loves Ironheart.”
Cue the thunderous applause—at least from the studio audience at ABC, which is, of course, owned by Disney.
A Manufactured Moment
The timing and tone of the message have sparked immediate skepticism from fans. Many saw it as a half-hearted attempt to manufacture a “passing of the torch” moment that never happened organically.
Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), Marvel Studios
After all, Dominique Thorne previously claimed that Robert Downey Jr. gave her private approval to carry on his legacy—but without any footage or public acknowledgment, that story didn’t stick. Now, just days before the show’s release on June 24th, here comes the big endorsement from a guy currently being payed millions to star in Avengers: Doomsday.
Convenient.
Access Media Loves It
The mainstream media, of course, lapped this up.
Gizmodo jumped in to gush over the moment, publishing what can only be described as a fawning tribute to both the show and Downey’s glorified voicemail.
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame (2019), Marvel Studios
The site breathlessly reported that Tony Stark “just endorsed” the series, calling it a “big deal” and suggesting this staged moment was akin to a political endorsement from a party elder. The publication even tried to soften the clear artificiality of the moment by noting, “he didn’t have to record anything at all.”
But that’s exactly the issue. If Downey believed strongly in Ironheart, he would have done more than a clearly rehearsed call-in from the Avengers: Doomsday set. His tone—stiff and filled with clunky lines about “the hood has me nervous”—did little to convince viewers this was anything more than a contractual obligation.
The dislike ratio for the official Ironheart trailer as of June 12, 2025 – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
Worse still, the public isn’t responding the way Disney hoped. The original Ironheart trailer on YouTube has racked up over half a million dislikes, with the like-dislike ratio looking more like a failed political ad than a hotly anticipated Marvel debut. The second trailer hasn’t fared much better, buried under a mountain of critical comments and viewer skepticism.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Joe Russo, Robert Downey Jr. and Anthony Russo speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
And while Gizmodo continues to push the idea that Ironheart is a spiritual successor to Tony Stark that will carry on his legacy, the actual MCU fanbase doesn’t seem eager to accept that premise.
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in Iron Man (2008), Marvel Entertainment
Riri Williams, a relatively new character in Marvel’s comics, lacks the depth, history, and charisma that made Stark an icon. The idea that viewers are supposed to see her as his heir apparent—especially when backed by an obviously pre-scripted message—feels like another tone-deaf move in a franchise that’s increasingly out of touch with its audience.
This comes just a day after what appears to be promotional bot campaigns hyping the series were uncovered on X.
A potential bot marketing capaign linked to Disney for the promotion of Ironheart – X: @MasterOfTheTDS
At a time when Marvel desperately needs authentic momentum, Ironheart is being propped up with artificial enthusiasm, apparent social media bot boosts, and now, a forced celebrity blessing. If this is what counts as “passing the torch” in the modern MCU, then it’s no wonder the flame is dying out.
Do you believe that Robert Downey Jr. actually cares about Ironheart? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
