Ben Stiller refuses to apologize for being a part of Tropic Thunder and says he’s ‘proud’ of the action-comedy.
Tropic Thunder, released in 2008, follows a group of actors filming a war movie who unknowingly find themselves in real danger.
The film was a box-office success, grossing approximately $195 million against a $92 million budget. Despite its popularity, it sparked significant controversy.
One of the most criticized aspects was Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Kirk Lazarus, an Australian method actor who undergoes ‘pigmentation alteration’ to play a Black character. The practice of blackface has a deeply offensive history, often used to mock Black people for entertainment.
Additionally, the film faced backlash from disability advocacy groups, including the Special Olympics, for its use of derogatory language toward individuals with intellectual disabilities. Ben Stiller’s character plays an actor portraying ‘Simple Jack,’ a role widely seen as offensive.
Despite these criticisms, Stiller has defended the film. In 2023, he stated, “I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder… Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.”
Robert Downey Jr. also addressed concerns, stating that the film satirized Hollywood’s excesses. While the controversy continues, Tropic Thunder remains a significant part of pop culture.
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