Ben Stiller Stands By ‘Tropic Thunder’ And Refuses To Apologize Despite Calls For Cancellation

In response, Stiller shut down the claims, writing: *”I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that.

“It’s always been a controversial movie since the day it was released. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.”*

Later in the thread, the fan resurfaced a 2018 tweet from Stiller, where he had responded to another X user who joked that the film should be “boycotted” after Shaun White apologized for dressing up as Simple Jack—a disabled character from 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 who sparked the discussion, commented on the resurfaced 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 addressed the backlash surrounding the film. Robert Downey Jr. has also defended Tropic Thunder, arguing that its purpose was to satirize Hollywood itself.

Appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience three years ago, the Iron Man star spoke about his blackface portrayal in the film, saying: “[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.”