Released in 2007, Tropic Thunder is a film that continues to create controversy. The rise of "cancel culture" had led to renewed criticism against the film with some believing that a movie like Tropic Thunder would not be able to be made today. This has led to rumors that director and star Ben Stiller has apologized for the film, and defenders have been telling him on social media that he shouldn't be doing that. Squashing those rumors outright, Stiller says on Twitter that he's not sorry for Tropic Thunder, which he knew from the start was a heavily controversial film.
"I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder," Stiller says. "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."
The fan Stiller responded to theorized that the apology rumors stem from a tweet the actor posted in 2018. At the time, Tropic Thunder was facing renewed controversy after snowboarder Shaun White dressed up for Halloween as Simple Jack, a mentally handicapped man played by Stiller's character inTropic Thunder. In a tweet, Stiller alluded to an apology he'd previously told, though he stood by the film.
The tweet reads, "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 Special Olympics."
Tropic Thunder Lampoons Actors
While Stiller's character mocked actors who portray disabled characters for critical acclaim, Robert Downey Jr. also played a role that was just as controversial. He portrayed a white method actor who was deeply entrenched in his role as a Black man for his next movie, and playing this character included putting on "Blackface." RDJ previously told Joe Rogan on The Joe Rogan Experience that the idea was to lampoon the real-life actors who would do these kinds of things.
“[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,” RDJ said. “And 90 percent of my Black friends were like, ‘Dude, that was great.’ I can’t disagree with [the other 10 per cent], but I know where my heart lies. I think that it’s never an excuse to do something that’s out of place and out of its time, but to me, it blasted the cap on [the issue]. I think having a moral psychology is job one. Sometimes, you just gotta go, ‘Yeah I effed up.’ In my defense, Tropic Thunder is about how wrong [Blackface] is, so I take exception."
The film was directed by Stiller who co-wrote the script with Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen. It stars Stiller, RDJ, Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Brandon T. Jackson, Nick Nolte, and Bill Hader.