In a recent development, Hollywood star Brian Cox, renowned for his role as the formidable Logan Roy in the highly acclaimed HBO series “Succession,” has publicly criticized actor Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in Ridley Scott’s film “Napoleon.” Cox’s scathing remarks about Phoenix’s portrayal of the French emperor have sparked a lively meme fest on social media.

During his appearance at London’s HistFest, Cox did not hold back in expressing his blunt opinion, stating, “It’s terrible. A truly terrible performance by Joaquin Phoenix. It really is appalling. I don’t know what he was thinking.” Cox further added, “I would have played it a lot better than Joaquin Phoenix, I tell you that. You can say it’s good drama. No — it’s lies. I think he’s well-named. Joaquin … wackeen … wacky. It’s a sort of wacky performance.”

Cox also took the opportunity to highlight historical inaccuracies in period dramas, mentioning the 1995 hit film “Braveheart.” Despite his own involvement in the project, Cox dismissed certain aspects of the film as “a load of lies.” His candid remarks on Phoenix’s performance and his own film caught the attention of the internet, leading to a wave of memes inspired by scenes and dialogues from “Succession.”

Social media users quickly seized the opportunity to create humorous memes in response to Cox’s criticism. Memes featuring Cox and quotes from his character Logan Roy flooded various platforms, with users playfully commenting on his straightforward approach to expressing his opinions. The memes ranged from humorous comparisons to grandpa Simpson from “The Simpsons” to references to Cox’s character in “Succession.”

Apart from his critique of Phoenix’s performance, Cox also shared his views on American politics, stating, “It’s very hard to govern America, and you certainly don’t need idiots like Trump doing that. I do think that Biden is a good man, but he’s too old.” The 77-year-old actor also mentioned his upcoming projects, including “The Parenting” and “Riff Raff.”

Brian Cox’s candid assessment of Joaquin Phoenix’s acting abilities and his own film has generated significant buzz online, with fans and followers joining in the meme fest to express their reactions and amusement. Cox’s reputation for speaking his mind and his iconic role as Logan Roy have made him a subject of fascination and entertainment in the online community.

As the conversation surrounding Cox’s remarks continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the actors and the wider entertainment industry will respond to the veteran actor’s critique.