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Elon Musk calls Ben Stiller the R-word after the actor says Tropic Thunder can’t be filmed in 2024


Elon Musk calls Ben Stiller the R-word after the actor says Tropic Thunder can’t be filmed in 2024

Elon Musk criticized Ben Stiller after the Emmy winner expressed doubts about the possibility of producing “Tropic Thunder” in 2024.

“Damn he went full throttle 🤣🤣,” the Tesla CEO captioned a repost of a fan post on X, in which he also criticized Stiller for his comments on Wednesday.

The screenshot shared by Musk included the Daily Mail headline that read, “Ben Stiller says Woke America killed ‘edgier’ comedy,” as well as an image of the 58-year-old in the 2008 film.

Elon Musk took to social media on Wednesday to strongly condemn Ben Stiller’s recent “Tropic Thunder” comment. X/@elonmusk
“Damn he went full throttle 🤣🤣,” wrote the Tesla CEO, pictured here in June. Getty Images
Stiller starred in the 2008 film alongside Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black and others. Merie Weismiller Wallace, SMPSP

Musk – who recently spent time with President-elect Donald Trump – also shared a clip from “Tropic Thunder” to X in which Stiller and Robert Downey Jr.’s characters use the R-word during a discussion.

In the scene from the film, Stiller’s character explains how he feels “rd” while appearing as his other character, Jack.

Downey’s character then advises his friend to “never go full RD” after he had already “gone full RD.”

Musk also shared a scene from the movie about X in which Stiller and Downey’s characters repeatedly use the R-word. Getty Images
In the film, Stiller portrays a character from a fake film called “Simple Jack”.

Musk’s contributions come after Stiller spoke to Collider on Wednesday and shared that producing the film was a “delicate” move.

“I doubt it,” the “Zoolander” star said of making the film in today’s climate. “Obviously it’s harder to do an edgier comedy in this environment.”

“Definitely not on the scale that we have achieved, also in terms of the company’s profitability.”

Stiller then praised director Steven Spielberg for his key role in making the film 16 years ago.

The 58-year-old actor spoke to Collider on Wednesday and expressed his doubts about making the film in 2024.
Stiller even addressed Downey portraying a character who uses blackface in the film, calling it a “tricky” move.

“I think we were lucky even then that we made it, and I actually have Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks to thank for that,” he continued.

“He read it and said, ‘Okay, let’s do this.’ It’s a very insider film when you think about it.”

The father of two then addressed Downey’s character in the film with black lettering, which caused backlash at the time.

“But yeah, the idea of ​​Robert playing this character playing an African-American is incredibly sensitive,” Stiller said. “Of course it was sensitive back then too.”

“The only reason we tried it was because I felt like the joke was very clear in terms of who it was about – actors who will do anything to win awards,” he said. Getty Images for the Anti-Defamation League
“But now, in this environment, I honestly don’t even know if I would have dared. I’ll be honest,” said Stiller, pictured here in “Nutcracker.” AP

Stiller concluded his comments on “Tropic Thunder” by explaining the main reason he chose the project.

“The only reason we tried it was because I felt the joke was very clear in terms of who the joke was about – actors who will do anything to win awards.” he said.

“But now, in this environment, I honestly don’t even know if I would have dared. I’m honest.”

Stiller has not yet responded to Musk’s post on X. His rep also did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

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