Ben Stiller refuses to apologize for Tropic Thunder and says He’s Proud of the film. On Tuesday, Ben Stiller took a stand against allegations that he apologized to the “woke” cancel culture for participating in the 2008 film “Tropic Thunder.”
Ben Stiller refuses to apologize for Tropic Thunder and says He’s Proud of the film
In response to a conservative user’s tweet, Stiller tweeted, “I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.”
I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it. 🙏✊😊
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) February 21, 2023
The user posted a copy of a tweet from his account in which he discussed how “liberals are attempting to ‘cancel culture‘ the movie and spread a rumor that Stiller had issued an apology.
Further along in the tweet, the user shared a tweet from Stiller from the year 2018 in which he addressed a different Twitter user who had jokingly suggested that the movie should be boycotted because of former Olympian Shaun White’s contentious Halloween costume, which was inspired by the movie’s intellectually disabled Simple Jack character.
Stiller wrote at the time, “Actually Tropic Thunder was boycotted 10 years ago when it came out, and I apologized then. It was always meant to make fun of actors trying to do anything to win awards. I stand by my apology, the movie, Shaun White, And the great people and work of the SpecialOlympics.”
Actually Tropic Thunder was boycotted 10 years ago when it came out, and I apologized then. It was always meant to make fun of actors trying to do anything to win awards. I stand by my apology, the movie, Shaun White, And the great people and work of the @SpecialOlympics. https://t.co/RqID5jIXP1
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) October 30, 2018
Robert Downey Jr on playing Blackface
Kirk Lazarus, played by Downey, is an Australian method actor whose complexion has been darkened for a role as a Black soldier in a war movie. Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal in blackface in the 2008 comedy starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Brandon T. Jackson, and Downey has drawn criticism, along with other contentious parts.
In an interview from 2020, Downey spoke on the part, stating it gave him a chance to “hold up to nature the absurd self-hypocrisy of artists and what they think they’re entitled to do on occasion.” Downey did admit that the movie was “an offensive nightmare,” though.
