Ben Stiller Will Never Apologize for ‘Tropic Thunder’ Despite Backlash

Tropic Thunder, featuring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Brandon T. Jackson, and Robert Downey, Jr. has long been chastised for portraying Downey in blackface among other controversial elements. Kirk Lazarus, played by Downey is an Australian method actor whose complexion has been darkened to play a Black soldier in a war film. Ben Stiller recently claimed that he has never apologized for the movie and is proud of it.

Ben Stiller responded to a tweet claiming that he had apologized to the “woke” cancel culture crowd for his participation in the controversial 2008 film “Tropic Thunder” on Tuesday. “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,” Stiller tweeted.

The tweet came in reaction to a conservative user named Benny S. who commented, “@BenStiller Please stop apologising 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 [sic] can just get over it. I was DYING laughing when I first saw it back in the day and so was everyone else.” Along with the caption, the user shared a picture of another tweet from his account, in which he discussed how “liberals are trying to ‘cancel culture’” the film and circulating another claim that Stiller had apologized for it.

“When the Wayans Brothers made ‘White Chicks…. nobody said a dang thing!!!! STOP APOLOGIZING FOR THIS STUFF!!!!” one quote from the image read. Later in the thread, the user shared a 2018 post from Stiller in which he replied to another Twitter user who jokingly suggested the picture be boycotted. It came after former Olympic athlete Shaun White’s controversial Halloween outfit resembled the film’s intellectually disabled Simple Jack character.

Stiller wrote, “Actually Tropic Thunder was boycotted 10 years ago when it came out, and I apologized then.” He continued by clarifying that, “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.” Benny S. who sparked the discussion wrote of 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.”

Downey addressed the controversial portrayal in a 2020 interview on ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ saying the role enabled him to expose the insane self-hypocrisy of artists and what they believe they’re permitted to do on occasion. He asserted at the time that it was impossible for it not to be an offensive nightmare of a film. Keep an eye on Thirsty for the most latest updates.

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