Ben Stiller is not planning to apologize for his role in the controversial movie Tropic Thunder anytime soon – and even hit back at claims that he had.
The satirical action comedy movie – which was released in 2008 – was slammed by viewers for several reasons such as its depiction of disabled people and minority groups, with Robert Downey Jr appearing in blackface.
For almost two decades, fans have been taking to their social media to defend the flick and criticize others for trying to “cancel” it, by saying that it stood the test of time.
Check out the trailer for Tropic Thunder:
Check out the trailer for Tropic Thunder:
The 58-year-old actor – who was also the director of the film – shared his views on the backlash and made it clear that he is still “proud” of the comedy movie. Taking to Twitter last year, a user named Benny S, first wrote: “Please stop apologizing for doing this movie. It was and still is funny AF. Even funnier now with cancel culture the way it is. It’s a MOVIE. Ya’ll can just get over it. I was DYING laughing when I first saw it back in the day and so was everyone else.”
The user shared a screenshot of an earlier tweet that claimed the Night at the Museum star had been forced to apologize for Tropic Thunder and that “liberals are trying to cancel” the flick.
Ben Stiller starred in the controversial movie. Credit: Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images
“When the Wayans Brothers made White Chicks…. nobody said a dang thing!!!! STOP APOLOGIZING FOR THIS STUFF!!!!” one quote from the image read.
Responding to the fan, the actor penned: “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.”
Further along in the thread, the fan resurfaced a 2018 tweet from Stiller, responding to another Twitter user who joked that the movie should be “boycotted” after Shaun White apologized for dressing up as Simple Jack – a disabled character in the movie.
“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,” the Zoolander star wrote at the time.
Benny S., the original user that sparked the discussion, remarked on the tweet: “I’m guessing people saw this…. and took it, misconstrued it, and ran with it. That movie is a classic to this day. I stand with you bro.”
Stiller isn’t the only actor who has spoken out about the backlash on the film. Downey Jr, previously argued that Tropic Thunder was meant to ridicule the Hollywood industry.
Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience three years ago, the Iron Man Star said about being in blackface: “[Ben] knew exactly what the vision for this was, he executed it, it was impossible to not have it be an offensive nightmare of a movie.
“And 90 percent of my Black friends were like, ‘Dude, that was great,’” he stated. “I can’t disagree with [the other 10 percent], but I know where my heart lies.”
