Editing Robert Downey Jr. (section)

===Political views===
In a 2008 interview, Downey stated that his time in prison changed his political point of view somewhat, saying: "I have a really interesting political point of view, and it's not always something I say too loud at dinner tables here, but you can't go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary and really understand it and come out a [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]]. You can't. I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone else, but it was very, very, very educational for me and has informed my proclivities and politics ever since."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/movies/20carr.html?_r=3&pagewanted=2&8dpc&oref=slogin |work=The New York Times |title=Been Up, Been Down. Now? Super. |first=David |last=Carr |date=April 20, 2008 |access-date=April 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209223025/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/movies/20carr.html?_r=3&pagewanted=2&8dpc&oref=slogin |archive-date=December 9, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, when asked about the quote in a 2015 interview to promote ''Avengers: Age of Ultron'', he denied that his previous statement reflected any longstanding beliefs on his part and stated, "I wouldn't say that I'm a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] or a liberal or a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]."<ref>{{cite web |title=Robert Downey Jr full interview: star walks out when asked about past |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALBwaO-rAsE&t=246 |publisher=Channel 4 News |date=April 22, 2015 |access-date=September 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626185818/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALBwaO-rAsE&t=246 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Downey has shown support for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. He donated to [[Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign|Barack Obama's presidential campaign]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finke |first=Nikki |date=May 11, 2012 |title=President Obama Talks Gay Marriage At George Clooney's Record $15M Fundraiser |url=https://deadline.com/2012/05/president-obama-en-route-to-george-clooneys-home-for-15m-campaign-fundraiser-269829/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=Deadline |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308061728/https://deadline.com/2012/05/president-obama-en-route-to-george-clooneys-home-for-15m-campaign-fundraiser-269829/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, Downey attended a fundraiser for the Democratic Party and donated to the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hillary Clinton fundraiser, Hollywood donors spur seven-figure haul for Democratic 'super joint' committee : Sunlight Foundation |url=https://sunlightfoundation.com/2014/12/04/hillary-clinton-fundraiser-hollywood-donors-spur-seven-figure-haul-for-democratic-super-joint-committee/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=sunlightfoundation.com |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308061728/https://sunlightfoundation.com/2014/12/04/hillary-clinton-fundraiser-hollywood-donors-spur-seven-figure-haul-for-democratic-super-joint-committee/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, Downey appeared in an Internet video urging the American public to vote against [[Donald Trump]] in the then-upcoming [[2016 United States presidential election|presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=September 22, 2016 |title=Save the Day review: Joss Whedon's anti-Trump celeb pile-up is amusing oddity |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/22/save-the-day-review-joss-whedon-anti-trump-video-robert-downey-jr-scarlett-johansson |access-date=January 21, 2024 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129070358/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/22/save-the-day-review-joss-whedon-anti-trump-video-robert-downey-jr-scarlett-johansson |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, Downey took part in a virtual fundraiser for [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|Joe Biden's presidential campaign]], with fellow ''Avengers'' actors and vice presidential nominee [[Kamala Harris]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maddaus |first=Gene |date=October 21, 2020 |title='Avengers' Stars Encourage Fans to Vote Blue During Biden Fundraiser |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/avengers-fundraiser-biden-campaign-1234811460/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=Variety |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021020603/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/avengers-fundraiser-biden-campaign-1234811460/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Edmonds |first=Lizzie |date=October 21, 2020 |title=Avengers assemble in virtual fundraiser for Joe Biden |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/us-politics/avengers-assemble-virtual-fundraiser-joe-biden-a4572401.html |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=Evening Standard|archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308061728/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/us-politics/avengers-assemble-virtual-fundraiser-joe-biden-a4572401.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Downey serves on the board of the [[Anti-Recidivism Coalition]], a nonprofit organization that advocates for [[criminal justice reform]] to reduce incarceration, improve the outcomes of formerly incarcerated individuals, and build healthier communities.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Hara |first=Mara |date=June 20, 2015 |title=Scott Budnick, Hollywood blockbuster producer, gave it all up to reform prisons |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/20/scott-budnick-hollywood-producer-prison-reform |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919050414/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/20/scott-budnick-hollywood-producer-prison-reform |archive-date=September 19, 2016 |access-date=December 13, 2016 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>