Ben Stiller Stands Firm on Tropic Thunder Controversy: ‘Proud’ of the Film
Ben Stiller remains unapologetic about his involvement in the 2008 action-comedy Tropic Thunder, asserting that he is “proud” of the film.
The movie, which features an ensemble cast including Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Tom Cruise, and many others, follows a group of actors who find themselves in real danger while filming a war movie. Despite its commercial success—grossing around $195 million against a $92 million budget—the film has faced significant criticism.
One of the primary controversies involves Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Kirk Lazarus, an Australian actor who undergoes a controversial procedure to darken his skin for a role. This has been criticized as blackface, a practice historically used to mock Black individuals and widely considered offensive.
Additionally, the film has been criticized by disability advocacy groups for its use of a term that belittles people with intellectual disabilities. This is highlighted in scenes where Stiller’s character plays an actor portraying “Simple Jack.”
On social media, reactions to the film’s content have been mixed. Some viewers express discomfort, stating that the film is offensive and uncomfortable to watch.
In response to these criticisms, Stiller has defended Tropic Thunder, stating, “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.”
He further addressed the backlash in 2018, tweeting, “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… And the great people and work of the @SpecialOlympics.”
Robert Downey Jr., who was nominated for an Oscar for his role, initially had reservations about the part. On The Joe Rogan Experience in 2020, he shared his concerns: “I thought, ‘Yeah, I’ll do that. I’ll do that after Iron Man.’ And then I started thinking, ‘This is a terrible idea.’”
Downey Jr. later reflected on his decision, explaining, “Ben, who is a masterful artist and director… knew exactly what the vision for this was. It was impossible to not have it be an offensive nightmare of a movie. And 90% of my Black friends were like, ‘Dude, that was great.’”
