Ben Stiller Defends ‘Tropic Thunder’, Stands By Robert Downey Jr.’s ‘Blackface’, Proud of Controversial Film

Actor Ben Stiller responded to a fan of the film “Tropic Thunder” (Benny S.) who asked him to, “Please stop apologizing for doing this movie.”

Stiller responded that he makes no apologies for the film and that he is “Proud of it and the work everyone did”.

“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.”

“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

“Benny S.” then shared a tweet of Stiller’s from 2018, which was made in response to the uproar over Olympian Shaun White dressing as a mentally handicapped character from the film for Halloween that year.

Benny pointed to what Stiller had said then as a reference to an apology for the film.

“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”

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

“Tropic Thunder” was made to make fun of Hollywood actors who will do anything for a role. In the film, Robert Downey Jr’s character undergoes a procedure to darken his skin for the role he accepted. Downey received much backlash even still.

Stiller’s character talks about a role he took on playing the mentally handicapped “Simple Jack”, during the film, he later dresses as the character as well. These scenes are still viewed as controversial.

When Olympic snowboarder Shaun White dressed as “Simple Jack” and posted a picture to Twitter. This sparked outrage from the Special Olympics and White apologized for his choice of costume.

Some on the left wonder how the film was made and why it hasn’t been canceled, but many people enjoy the satirical film. It is very unlikely a film such as “Tropic Thunder” would be made today.