This is way off. Black Tie White Noise didn't make many waves in the U.S., despite collaborating with Let's Dance producer Nile Rodgers again, but it went to #1 in the UK and had a big single with Jump They Say. But he made a very sharp left turn 2 years later with his Brian Eno reunion. Outside wasn't a popular success overall, but the video for Heart's Filthy Lesson made a big splash on MTV, and combined with his shocking new look (the spiked red hair) he became "cool" again among the alternative rock crowd, leading to the tour with Nine Inch Nails. That was a big fucking deal.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. And as pointed out above by someone else, the I'm Afraid of Americans collaboration with Trent Reznor was another huge alternative hit, even if the album Earthling wasn't a major seller.
So while he did take a nosedive after this period, he was hardly "a joke" in this decade.