Ben Stiller originally apologised for character in huge movie after it was 'initially boycotted'

Ben Stiller has always been vocal in his defence of what is considered to be his most problematic movie, though he originally apologised for a character in it - and it's probably not the one you're thinking.

The Severance director has sat behind the camera many times before the hit Apple TV sci-fi show.

Stiller's first film as a director is 1994's adult coming-of-age movie Reality Bites, which saw him direct Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke.

While Reality Bites and some of his more recent films as a director have been unanimously praised, there's one movie of his that has ruffled a lot more feathers.

You know the one we're talking about. As star-studded as they come, 2008 satirical action comedy Tropic Thunder continues to be a point of contention in Stiller's filmography.

Tropic Thunder went a little too far on satire for some viewers. (Universal Pictures)

Written, directed and produced by Stiller, who also stars in the movie, Tropic Thunder parodies war movies and method acting by having a group of Oscar-hungry male Hollywood stars go a little too hard on the prep for their next project on the Vietnam War.

Dropped in the middle of the jungle by their director (Steve Coogan), who then dies in an accident, the host of entitled, bratty men have to rely on their acting skills to survive.

The film includes blackface from Robert Downey Jr's character Kirk Lazarus, a method actor who gets 'pigmentation alteration' to alter the colour of his skin for a role.

Stiller plays Tugg Speedman, an actor who's been cancelled over his stereotypical portrayal of a mentally disabled character called Simple Jack. In 2018, snowboarder Shaun White dressed up as Simple Jack from Tropic Thunder for Halloween and later apologised.

Responding to White's apology, Stiller said that he'd received complaints from 20 disability advocacy groups and had previously apologised for Simple Jack.

"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," Stiller tweeted in 2018.

Stiller as Tugg Speedman. (Universal Pictures)

In 2023, a fan asked Stiller to clarify whether a tweet claiming he'd issued an apology for Tropic Thunder was true, but Stiller insisted he stood by the movie.

"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 that everyone did on it," he responded.

The film also starred Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte, Danny McBride, and Jay Baruchel.