Stars who have slammed President Donald Trump are now asking the president for help with artificial intelligence copyright protections as Hollywood battles with the impact of AI on the entertainment industry.
Mark Ruffalo, Bette Midler, Ava DuVernay, and more actors have signed a letter to President Trump asking him to hold the line against tech companies who they said have pushed to “weaken copyright” rules, <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/03/trump-ai-hollywood-response-copyright-1236329205/">Deadline</a> noted.
“We firmly believe that America’s global AI leadership must not come at the expense of our essential creative industries,” the group wrote the White House Office of Science and Technology in an open letter.
“America’s arts and entertainment industry supports over 2.3M American jobs with over $229Bn in wages annually, while providing the foundation for American democratic influence and soft power abroad,” it added. “But AI companies are asking to undermine this economic and cultural strength by weakening copyright protections for the films, television series, artworks, writing, music, and voices used to train AI models at the core of multi-billion dollar corporate valuations.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hollywood stars call on Donald Trump to make AI pay for their work amid tech row <a href="https://t.co/n3mq8qIwCE">https://t.co/n3mq8qIwCE</a>
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) <a href="https://twitter.com/MailOnline/status/1902547998439084184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
“For nearly 250 years, U.S. copyright law has balanced [a] creator’s rights with the needs of the public, creating the world’s most vibrant creative economy,” the letter continued. “We recommend that the American AI Action Plan uphold existing copyright frameworks to maintain the strength of America’s creative and knowledge industries, as well as American cultural influence abroad.”
In addition to Ruffalo, Midler, and DuVernay, Ben Stiller, Cate Blanchett, Judd Apatow, Taika Waititi, Natasha Lyonne, Paul McCartney, Lily Gladstone, and Patton Oswalt joined a list of more than 400 people in the entertainment industry who have called on Trump’s administration because they claim OpenAI and Google “are arguing for a special government exemption so they can freely exploit America’s creative and knowledge industries, despite their substantial revenues and available funds.&#8221;
&#8220;AI companies can use our copy-righted material by simply doing what the law requires – negotiating appropriate licenses with copyright holders, just as every other industry does,&#8221; the letter read. &#8220;This issue goes well beyond the entertainment industry, as the right to train AI on all copyright-protected content impacts all of America’s knowledge industries.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.aol.com/actor-mark-ruffalo-dubs-trump-025802346.html">Ruffalo</a> has been an outspoken critic of the president, labeling him once an “enemy of America” in response to an op-ed in The New York Times that claimed Trump was a threat to democracy.
“F***ing finally. Media starts to wake up…” Ruffalo wrote. “Presidential contender is calling for Americans to kill and harm Americans. Let that sink in. Enemy of America from within.”
Frequent Trump critic Midler previously <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-bette-midler-social-media-1890734">shared a post</a> on X from a writer who labeled Trump “a troll,&#8221; who has &#8220;no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth.” She captioned the post, noting how “brilliant” the writer was.
Following the 2024 election, director DuVernay blasted Trump’s re-election in spite of the criminal charges he faced, <a href="https://deadline.com/2024/12/ava-duvernay-donald-trump-re-election-origin-release-marrakech-1236190812/">Deadline</a> noted.
“My country is run by criminals, but that criminality is seen as completely different than a black kid on the corner who might buy, sell marijuana,” the actress said. “The black kid is in prison for years, while criminals are elected and make millions of dollars and sell electric cars.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/susan-sarandon-explains-the-impact-of-ai-in-hollywood-and-why-younger-generations-may-not-care" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Susan Sarandon Explains The Impact Of AI In Hollywood — And Why Younger Generations May Not Care</a>

WarnerMedia Winter TCA 2020 – Presentation

Hollywood Stars Who Slammed Trump Now Asking For Help With AI Protections

Artificial Intelligence

Ben Stiller

Bette Midler

Celebrities

Donald Trump

Entertainment

Hollywood

Mark Ruffalo

Movies

U.S.

And we thought “White Dudes for Harris” was the cringiest Hollywood product in recent memory. Et tu, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/et-tu-jeff-bridges-the-white-actors-who-gave-up-their-man-card-on-kamala-zoom-call" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeff Bridges</a>?
Yes, the worship of the assembled stars for Vice President Kamala Harris made us long for the sincerity of that Gal Gadot “Imagine” sing-a-long at the start of the pandemic.
Except celebrities were just warming up. And it could only get worse between now and Election Day. Is that possible? Well, Hollywood is all about make believe, and what candidate is more smoke and mirrors than Harris?
Let’s start with Ben Stiller, the comedy superstar who originally made us cringe during that “White Dudes” debacle. Stiller summoned his &#8220;Zoolander&#8221; character in the worst of ways when he uttered this pablum: “Every White Jewish Guy Wishes He Was Black.&#8221;
Stiller wasn’t done, apparently. He managed to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/ben-stiller-calling-kamala-harris-change-candidate-goes-viral-literally-biden-harris-administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">top his own inanity</a> with this line, taken straight from the media’s talking points.
&#8220;Just very excited about moving forward and all the energy and excitement that&#8217;s around this movement right now… That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m here, because it&#8217;s time for change, and it seems like it&#8217;s happening.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Ben Stiller on why he&#39;s voting for Kamala Harris: &quot;I believe it&#39;s time for change&quot; 
Who wants to tell him?<a href="https://t.co/i2LVIDUJeR">pic.twitter.com/i2LVIDUJeR</a>
&mdash; End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1828922172884066397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
From Biden-Harris to Harris-Walz. So. Much. Change.
Does the actor even hear himself? Then again, we have major news outlets attacking Team Trump for trying to “<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/politico-scolded-insisting-vance-tried-tether-harris-biden-shes-literally-his-vice-president" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tether</a>” Harris to President Joe Biden.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus previously vowed to be very active in the Harris presidential campaign. We were warned. Her latest contribution? Co-starring in a humiliating “dance” video for Team Harris alongside such noted hoofers as Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Hillary Clinton and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Why? “The Late Show” shared the clip to celebrate the recent Democratic National Convention.
The dancers wave their arms to Queen’s “We Will Rock You” on the TikTok video, and it’s hard to see who comes off worse. No context. No purpose. No attempt to use their combined profiles to do anything but look self-satisfied.
The only winner here? Gadot, who can rest easy knowing she’s not part of the lamest celebrity video in recent memory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Hilary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Pete Buttigieg show off their dance moves as they take part in a TikTok dance trend to promote their appearance on The Late Show. <a href="https://t.co/MTyrKdVJWi">pic.twitter.com/MTyrKdVJWi</a>
&mdash; Oli London (@OliLondonTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/OliLondonTV/status/1827813702256783479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Oscar winner Sally Field isn’t known for her political musings, but she apparently quit social media after, “it became public toilet paper for our former crook of a President.&#8221; Imagine leaving a platform because you dislike one of the millions of users.
Well, she’s back and she’s a huge Harris fan <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/sally-field-returns-social-media-kamala-harris-presidential-bid-donald-trump-1235983953/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">because it’s all about … Democracy:</a>
<blockquote>Hope is here. Right in the room with me and my 18-year-old newly registered to vote grandson. I’m, screaming from the highest mountain top I can find. Vote for our country, our children and grandchildren. Vote for the earth and women and human rights. Vote for democracy. Vote for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kamalaharris/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@kamalaharris</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/timwalz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@timwalz</a> . Please dear God. (And I’ll be your best friend.)</blockquote>
Does God endorse a candidate who has yet to earn a single presidential vote in either an election or a primary? What about a party fighting to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/democrats-party-hopeful-knocked-off-pennsylvania-ballot-cornel-113030068" target="_blank" rel="noopener">keep select candidates off the ballot</a>?
Sigourney Weaver got dragged into presidential politics during a recent press conference and it made her cry.
It’s not what you think.
<div id="attachment_788779" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-788779" class="size-large wp-image-788779" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2169187631-864x576.jpg" alt="VENICE, ITALY - AUGUST 29: Sigourney Weaver leaves at the Hotel Excelsior at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 29, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2169187631-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2169187631-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2169187631-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2169187631.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Andreas Rentz/Getty Images</div>
The “Alien” alum, receiving a lifetime achievement award at the Venice Film Festival, fielded a question suggesting her enduring Ripley character helped pave the way for Harris’ 2024 presidential run.
The question alone made the Cringe-Meter melt down. <a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/festivals/sigourney-weaver-tears-up-venice-alien-ripley-kamala-harris-1236120121/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The response? Worse:</a>
<blockquote>To think for one moment that my work would have anything to do with her rise makes me very happy, actually, because it’s true…I have so many women who come and thank me.</blockquote>
The actress appeared to be crying during the response.
Ellen Ripley famously stared down an Alien super-beast in the saga’s second film, protecting a young child all the while. Few action heroes are that tough.
Vice President Harris avoided journalist questions for well over a month before agreeing to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/harris-struggles-to-lay-out-what-she-would-do-on-day-1-as-president?topStoryPosition=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a joint CNN softball affair</a> with her Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz.
Empowering.
Directorial legend Quentin Tarantino’s pro-Harris blather made even Trump-hater Bill Maher blush. The two discussed Harris’ election chances on Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, letting Tarantino share his curious advice for the word salad spinner.
The subject? Harris’ reluctance to answer questions from the media. Maher suggested she needed to reach out to undecided voters.
Tarantino’s response? Too risky!
<blockquote>Look, you can talk about maybe she should have had more guts about this or that and the other but we’re the f***ing president. And Trump’s not the president, and we’re the f***ing president, and now it’s gonna be about this … sometimes it’s just about f***ing winning. And it doesn’t matter how we look at this moment.</blockquote>
Translation: Our candidate can’t swat away softball questions, but she’s got MY vote.
And let’s not forget the Foo Fighters. The alt-rock band was ready to join The Resistance™ after Team Trump used its “My Hero” song during the Aug. 23 rally featuring Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
The band rushed to social media to complain, adding “appropriate actions are being taken” to address the matter.
Except Trump’s team says it <a href="https://ew.com/trump-campaign-fires-back-at-foo-fighters-claims-it-had-permission-to-use-my-hero-at-a-rally-8701506" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bought the rights to use the song</a>.
The group joins a long list of progressive stars who kick and scream when a GOP politician uses their music … and does nothing.
Cringe.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HollywoodInToto</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
<a href="http://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI</a>

Kamala Harris And Running Mate Tim Walz Make First Appearance Together In Philadelphia

Kamala Kringe: Awkward Celebrity Endorsements For A Make Believe Candidate

2024 Election

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Kamala Harris

Opinion

Politics

They can’t help themselves.
Every four years Hollywood puts the remains of its dignity in a cool, dry place and shills for the Democrat du jour.
Kerry. Obama. Clinton. Biden. And now Vice President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kamala-harris" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kamala Harris</a>.
They mostly kept quiet in the waning days of President Joe Biden’s final presidential campaign. Sure, Mark Hamill <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mark-hamill-crashes-white-house-press-briefing-to-gush-about-how-much-he-loves-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">yukked it up</a> with White House Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre and late-night propagandists passed the hat for Biden.
No! He’s fine, not frozen! He’s just auditioning for the Tin Man role next week.
Most stars kept on the sidelines, likely aware of Biden’s cognitive decline. Now, they’re rushing to the nearest microphone or Zoom camera to sing Harris’ praises.
She’s black! She’s a woman! She’s Indian! She’s not orange! She doesn’t have to call it a day at 4:00 pm! Did we mention she’s a woman?
<div id="attachment_778081" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-778081" class="size-large wp-image-778081" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2154057151-864x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: Ben Stiller attends The Gordon Parks Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner And Auction Celebrating The Arts &amp; Social Justice at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 21, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images the Gordon Parks Foundation)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2154057151-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2154057151-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2154057151-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2154057151.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Arturo Holmes/Getty Images the Gordon Parks Foundation</div>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-stiller-during-harris-fundraiser-every-white-jewish-guy-wishes-he-was-black">Ben Stiller’s pro-Harris shtick</a> could make you re-evaluate a remarkable career. He not only starred in iconic comedies like “Zoolander,” “Meet the Parents” and more. He directed a few classics, too, including “The Cable Guy” and “Tropic Thunder.” Now, he’s challenging Harris for a <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/08/07/entertainment/ben-stiller-says-every-white-jewish-guy-wishes-he-was-black-on-virtual-harris-fundraiser/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">word salad shootout:</a>
<blockquote>She’s also a historic candidate…It’s going to be the first woman president, and that’s incredibly exciting. She’s Indian, she’s Black, she’s everything. You can be more than one thing, it’s incredible.</blockquote>
We waited until 2024 to realize people could be more than one ethnicity? Thank you, Ben! Wait until former President Barack Obama hears the news.
Previously, Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges highlighted the “White Dudes for Harris” Zoom soiree featuring equally banal cheerleading:
<blockquote>I&#8217;m so excited. A woman president, man. How exciting! And her championing of women&#8217;s rights, I&#8217;m for that.</blockquote>
Could someone pass him a script? Stat!
Rosie O’Donnell bragged about buying <a href="https://ground.news/article/rosie-odonnell-vows-to-not-remove-kamala-t-shirts-until-she-is-elected">100 Harris T-shirts</a>, and she won’t take them off until she emerges victorious on Election Day.
Courage, as Dan Rather might say.
<div id="attachment_778085" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-778085" class="size-large wp-image-778085" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2148911425-864x576.jpg" alt="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: Nick Offerman speaks onstage during the Photo Call For Los Angeles premiere of &quot;Conan O'Brien Must Go&quot; at Avalon Hollywood &amp; Bardot on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Max)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2148911425-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2148911425-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2148911425-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/08/GettyImages-2148911425.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Max</div>
Nick Offerman, a TV legend for portraying libertarian Ron Swanson on “Parks and Recreation,” humiliated himself by warbling a satire version of &#8220;God Bless the USA,&#8221; <a href="https://ew.com/nick-offerman-proud-to-be-kamala-man-song-8690784" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aimed at disaffected Republicans:</a>
<blockquote>I&#8217;m proud to be a Kamala Man, who has quit the GOP
because I just can&#8217;t abide a man who&#8217;s tried for 34 felonies. 
It&#8217;s time to stand up and face the facts that the men that I once cheered 
are a bunch of wing-nut white nationalists. Those guys are f&#8212;in&#8217; weird.</blockquote>
It&#8217;s like MSNBC never leaves his TV remote. No angry, hard-Left meme was left untouched by the ditty. Here’s betting he didn’t make a single convert.
Not to be outdone, Hanoi Jane highlighted an Elders for Kamala fundraising event. Here’s far-Left actress Jane Fonda, taking time out from her <a href="https://time.com/6958813/earth-awards-2024-jane-fonda/">Climate Change fire drill shtick</a>, <a href="https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/comics-elders-kamala-harris-fundraiser-nick-offerman-jane-fonda-1236096484/">promoting Harris.</a>
<blockquote>It’s not just because the orange man is terrible, it’s because Kamala is the leader we need right now. She’s fierce, she’s smart, she’s experienced and she can beat him.</blockquote>
She’s so smart and fierce she refuses to be interviewed by a fawning press landscape. Even more courage.
Fonda connects to a previous celebrity age, given her traitorous Vietnam War activism. The recent celebrity cringe tracks back to the rise of Obama. After the former community activist became the nation’s first black president celebrities groveled to serve him.
“I pledge to be a servant to our president,” Demi Moore said with then beau Ashton Kutcher by her side. “… and all mankind.” Kutcher finished. To be fair, that’s more creepy than cringe.
Expect more of the same in the coming weeks. And this is all before the Harris/Walz ticket makes its late-night TV debut. That cringe may be visible from space. And you thought Stephen Colbert’s dancing COVID-19 vaccine syringes were embarrassing.
<h4><a href="http://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI</a></h4>
We’ve been here before, of course.
Celebrities have been cutting “get out the vote” videos for some time. The tropes are instantly recognizable. The line repetition. The stars eschewing makeup to look “serious.” The progressive talking points.
The worst might have been when <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38340115">Martin Sheen, Debra Messing</a>, Bob Odenkirk, Noah Wyle and others begged Republican electors to block Donald Trump’s rise to the White House. It’s the rare time Hollywood stars stopped calling Republicans monsters and white nationalists.
So much for democracy.
The creaky celebrity video trend got so bad some funny conservatives mocked it with their own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95HMg1l13EM&amp;t=1s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faux election year video.</a>
These tony cringe-fests aren’t relegated to election season. Recall how “Saturday Night Live” sang a <a href="https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/snl-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-mueller-8487684/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christmas-themed song</a> tied to Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his infamous “report?”
“I just want to sleep at night. Please make sure your case is tight.”
Spoiler alert. It wasn’t.
“SNL” previously beclowned itself by singing a somber cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” when Hillary Clinton lost to Trump in 2016. Was it worse than asking “SNL” regulars to serenade departing President Obama with “To Sir, with Love.”
This is a political comedy show, remember. So how did the show’s staff and crew forget?
Easy. When it comes to electing Democrats, Hollywood stars will do or say anything. Literally.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HollywoodInToto</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

MixCollage-08-Aug-2024-05-52-PM-8724

Hollywood Goes Gaga For Kamala

actors

Democrats

Jane Fonda

Actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ben-stiller">Ben Stiller</a> discussed his feelings about Democratic presidential hopeful and current Vice President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a> during a “Comics for Kamala” fundraising call on Monday night.
The “Zoolander” star also shared his thoughts on her signature laugh.
“It&#8217;s beautiful when she laughs because she&#8217;s a real person. &#8230; She&#8217;s also a historic candidate,” Stiller, 58, said on the call. “It&#8217;s going to be the first woman president and that&#8217;s incredibly exciting. She&#8217;s Indian, she&#8217;s black, she&#8217;s everything. You can be more than one thing, it&#8217;s incredible.”
The actor continued, “You know, I&#8217;m Jewish and Irish. I wish I was black. Every white Jewish guy wishes he was black. You know, get out there and vote and donate and take advantage.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ben Stiller announces he is donating $150K to Kamala Harris because &#8220;I wish I was black—every white Jewish guy wishes he was black.&#8221;<a href="https://t.co/hNl7FEMjaQ">pic.twitter.com/hNl7FEMjaQ</a>
— Douglass Mackey (@DougMackeyCase) <a href="https://twitter.com/DougMackeyCase/status/1820846340802293989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
Stiller announced he was personally donating $150,000 to Harris’ <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/2024-election">campaign</a>.
Other comedy stars who were advertised as being attendees on the call included Patton Oswalt, Jason Bateman, D.L. Hughley, Cecily Strong, Kathy Griffin, Jon Hamm, Kathryn Hahn, Ed Helms, John Stamos, Max Greenfield, Tom Arnold, Matt Friend, Lake Bell, Rosie O’Donnell, Craig Robinson, Tom Lennon, Trae Crowder, Danny Zuker, Maz Jobrani, Lisa Ann Walter, David Koechner, Nick Offerman, Tim Heidecker, and Chris Messina, per <a href="https://deadline.com/2024/08/kamala-harris-comedians-fundraiser-ben-stiller-jason-bateman-1236030438/">Deadline</a>.
Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) said he reached out to friends in the comedy world to help organize the event. “President Biden so graciously stepping aside and passing the torch has just energized so many people,” Swalwell said, also mentioning how Harris “likes to have fun, and part of who she is is her great laugh.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/scamala-kamala-harris-unmasked" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH BEN SHAPIRO’S ‘SCAMALA: KAMALA HARRIS UNMASKED’ ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
The call was modeled after a similar White Dudes for Harris call last week that also featured celebrity guests including Jeff Bridges, Mark Ruffalo, Josh Groban, Sean Astin, Joseph Gordon Levitt, and Mark Hamill. That call raised more than $4 million dollars.
Griffin weighed in after the event, <a href="https://www.threads.net/@kathygriffin/post/C-VQl_3JN3D">posting</a> on Threads, “I also donated $20,000 of my own money and then said that @benstiller was going to match my $20,000. I don’t even know if he heard that part because his face wasn’t on camera. Don’t be mad at me, Ben.”

Ben Stiller During Harris Fundraiser: ‘Every White Jewish Guy Wishes He Was Black’

Ben Stiller During Harris Fundraiser: 'Every White Jewish Guy Wishes He Was Black'

Actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ben-stiller">Ben Stiller</a> expressed his shock at how badly “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">Zoolander 2</a>” performed at the box office following its release in 2016 despite the original film&#8217;s success in 2001.
The 58-year-old <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">star</a> discussed his thoughts during a recent episode of David Duchovny’s “Fail Better” podcast. “I thought everybody wanted this,” Stiller said of making the sequel. “And then it’s like, ‘Wow, I must have really f***ed this up. Everybody didn’t go to it. And it’s gotten these horrible reviews.”
“It really freaked me out because I was like, ‘I didn’t know, was that bad?’ What scared me the most on that one was I’m losing what I think what’s funny, the questioning yourself … on ‘Zoolander 2,’ it was definitely blindsiding to me. And it definitely affected me for a long time.”
Stiller directed, wrote, produced, and starred in the sequel, just as he did with the original. The first “Zoolander” was a critical and commercial success. The movie satirized the fashion industry as it documented the life of a male model, Derek Zoolander (Stiller), and his rival Hansel (Owen Wilson). It earned $60.8 million against a production budget of $28 million.
The sequel fared much worse. Set ten years after the original, “Zoolander 2” included many of the original cast members, including Stiller and Wilson, while Will Ferrell, Penelope Cruz, Kristen Wiig, Naomi Campbell, and Justin Bieber were also co-stars. Benedict Cumberbatch played a transgender model named AII. 
As The Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/apr/24/ben-stiller-i-was-blindsided-by-zoolander-2-flopping">noted</a>, “Zoolander 2” barely broke even on its $50 million production budget and received terrible reviews. 
Stiller told Duchovny that the failure became a learning experience for him. 
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“The wonderful thing that came out of that for me was just having space where, if that had been a hit, and they said ‘Make Zoolander 3 right now,’ or offered some other movie, I would have just probably jumped in and done that,” the “Meet the Parents” star said.
“But I had this space to kind of sit with myself and have to deal with it and other projects that I had been working on – not comedies, some of them – I have the time to actually just work on and develop. Even if somebody said, ‘Well, why don’t you go do another comedy or do this?’ I probably could have figured out something to do. But I just didn’t want to,” Stiller continued.

Ben Stiller Says He Was ‘Blindsided’ By ‘Zoolander 2’ Flopping: ‘Thought Everybody Wanted This’

Ben Stiller Said He Was 'Blindsided' By 'Zoolander 2' Flopping: 'Thought Everybody Wanted This'

Actress Christine Taylor opened up about how she and actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ben-stiller">Ben Stiller</a> found their way back to each other after separation and credited the pandemic with making it happen.
During the 51-year-old&#8217;s appearance on &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4fthIes_14">The Drew Barrymore Show</a>&#8221; on Tuesday, Taylor said after getting married so quickly after meeting, they didn&#8217;t know who they were, and they started growing apart.
&#8220;We knew each other six months, got engaged, were married within a year, then had [daughter Ella] the next year,&#8221; Taylor explained.
&#8220;Family was always a priority, but I think Ben [Stiller] and I both started to grow in different directions,&#8221; she added. &#8220;And when we made the decision to separate, it was not something we wanted to talk publicly about, it was not something we took lightly.&#8221;
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Christine Taylor Reconnected with Ben Stiller During the Pandemic | The Drew Barrymore Show" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t4fthIes_14?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
In 2017, the two decided to split up after 17 years of marriage. Taylor explained that time apart allowed them each to get &#8220;to know who&#8221; they were.
&#8220;I think we have these growth spurts, even as adults. And we needed some time to figure that out,&#8221; Taylor said. &#8220;So, when the pandemic hit, and we all had to figure out where to hunker down, we all ended up in our house together with two teenagers, and we found this way back.&#8221;
&#8220;We had so much time to talk,&#8221; she added. &#8220;There were no other distractions … it just happened organically.&#8221;
In 2022, Stiller spoke to <a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a39139152/ben-stiller-severance-profile/">Esquire</a> about how the two &#8220;were separated and got back together&#8221; and confirmed reports they had rekindled their romance after living apart for several years.
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&#8220;And we&#8217;re happy about that,&#8221; Stiller said previously. &#8220;It&#8217;s been really wonderful for all of us. Unexpected, and one of the things that came out of the pandemic.&#8221;
Stiller, now 57, then reflected on what he&#8217;s learned about his marriage.
&#8220;So, yeah, I think we have a respect for the ways that we&#8217;re similar and the ways we&#8217;re different,&#8221; the actor said. &#8220;And I think accepting that, you can really appreciate someone more because you&#8217;re not trying to get them to change for you. Once you accept that, you save a lot of energy.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vince-vaughn-says-the-studio-likes-his-plan-for-dodgeball-sequel-says-well-see-where-it-goes">Vince Vaughn Says The &#8216;Studio Likes&#8217; His Plan For &#8216;Dodgeball&#8217; Sequel, Says &#8216;We&#8217;ll See Where It Goes&#8217;</a>

75th Directors Guild Of America Awards – Red Carpet

Christine Taylor Opens Up About How She Rekindled Romance With Ben Stiller After Separation

Marriage

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ben-stiller" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Stiller</a> hit back at the woke <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/when-woke-hollywood-sees-the-light-celebrities-begin-to-ask-questions-after-run-in-with-cancel-mob" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cancel culture mob</a> and said he makes &#8220;no apologies&#8221; for his 2008 comedy &#8220;Tropic Thunder&#8221; and disputed a tweet alleging he had previously apologized for the film.
The <a href="https://twitter.com/BenStiller/status/1628119652231520257?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">57-year-old</a> actor, comedian and filmmaker tweeted on Tuesday to his 5.6 million followers that he did not apologize for the movie amid calls to have the film canceled and removed from streaming platforms, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/02/23/ben-stiller-makes-no-apologies-for-tropic-thunder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a> reported.
The person on Twitter wrote, &#8220;[BenStiller] Please stop apologizing for doing this movie. It was and still is funny AF&#8230; Even funnier now with cancel culture the way it is. It&#8217;s a MOVIE. Ya&#8217;ll can just get over it. I was DYING laughing when I first saw it back in the day and so was everyone else.&#8221; His post included a screenshot of another post that talked about how &#8220;liberals are trying to &#8216;cancel culture&#8217; the movie. When the Wayans Brothers made &#8216;White Chicks&#8217;…. nobody said a dang thing!!!! STOP APOLOGIZING FOR THIS STUFF!!!!&#8221;
&#8220;I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder,&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hollywood-star-ben-stiller-insists-hollywoods-a-meritocracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stiller</a> replied. &#8220;Don&#8217;t know who told you that. It&#8217;s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.&#8221;
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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. 🙏✊😊
&mdash; Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenStiller/status/1628119652231520257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Actor Robert Downey Jr. plays Kirk Lazarus, a Method actor who darkens his skin to play a black soldier in the 2008 war movie, the outlet noted.
During the &#8220;Iron Man&#8221; star&#8217;s appearance in 2020 on &#8220;The Joe Rogan Experience&#8221; podcast, Downey said the film showed how wrong blackface is.
&#8220;I think that it&#8217;s never an excuse to do something that&#8217;s out of place and out of its time, but to me it blasted the cap on [the issue],&#8221;  the Marvel star shared. &#8220;I think having a moral psychology is Job 1. Sometimes, you just gotta go, &#8216;Yeah, I effed up.&#8217; In my defense, &#8216;Tropic Thunder&#8217; is about how wrong [blackface] is, so I take exception.&#8221;
In 2018, Stiller stood by Olympic Gold medalist Shaun White after he dressed as a disabled character in the film, named Simple Jack, for his Halloween costume, <a href="https://people.com/movies/ben-stiller-stands-by-shaun-whites-offensive-tropic-thunder-halloween-costume/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People magazine</a> noted.
&#8220;Actually &#8216;Tropic Thunder&#8217; was boycotted 10 years ago when it came out, and I apologized then,&#8221; Stiller <a href="https://twitter.com/BenStiller/status/1057383234009554949?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>. &#8220;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 [SpecialOlympics].&#8221;

Ben Stiller-2

Ben Stiller Hits Back At Woke Mob, Says He Makes ‘No Apologies’ For ‘Tropic Thunder’

Ben Stiller Hits Back At Woke Mob, Says He Makes 'No Apologies' For 'Tropic Thunder'

Comedy

Woke Culture

On Wednesday, Fox News’ meteorologist Janice Dean, who had relentlessly pursued New York Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo for his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, targeted celebrities who had lavished praise on Cuomo but still have not apologized for their championing of him.
She tweeted, “It would be very helpful if some of these celebrities that fawned over @andrewcuomo fessed up to their terrible judgement and apologized to the women and families affected by their tone deaf comments last year. But they won’t. “
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It would be very helpful if some of these celebrities that fawned over <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewcuomo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@andrewcuomo</a> fessed up to their terrible judgement and apologized to the women and families affected by their tone deaf comments last year. But they won’t.
&mdash; Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaniceDean/status/1430505158979502080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Dean then named some celebrities who had lauded Cuomo last year, including Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Joel, Billy Crystal, Rosie Perez, Ben Stiller, Chelsea Handler, Sarah Silverman, and Cher.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/whoopigoldberg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhoopiGoldberg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/billyjoel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@billyjoel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BillyCrystal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BillyCrystal</a> @rosieperezbkln (who blocked me) @RedHourBen <a href="https://twitter.com/chelseahandler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chelseahandler</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahKSilverman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SarahKSilverman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cher?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cher</a>
&mdash; Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaniceDean/status/1430506383586299904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
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In November 2020, when the Emmys <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/andrew-cuomo-emmy-ceremony-draws-mockery-embarrassing">gave Cuomo the Founders Award</a> &#8220;in recognition of his leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic and his masterful use of television to inform and calm people around the world,&#8221; host Bruce Paisner stated:
<blockquote>Last spring, when the virus was new and out of control, and the people of New York were frightened at its relentless spread. One man took it upon himself to use technology to spread reliable information and tell citizens what to do. … And as spring turned into summer this year, the people of New York went from fear of the unknown to increasing knowledge of what was known and a sense that somebody had a plan.</blockquote>
Billy Crystal <a href="https://abc7ny.com/cuomo-emmy-award-international-academy-of-television-arts-and-sciences-coronavirus-daily-briefings/8203781/">breathed</a>, “In the darkest days of the pandemic, your daily briefings, live from New York, gave us hope, gave us clarity, gave us the truth, and gave us something we were not getting from Washington: Leadership.”
Billy Joel added, “In the midst of this storm, Andrew Cuomo became the nation&#8217;s governor. People across the country tuned into his press conferences every day.” Perez stated, “Governor Andrew Cuomo, you are the man.” Stiller: “I look up to you still.”
Joel wrote of Cuomo <a href="https://vermilioncountyfirst.com/2020/03/31/billy-joel-wife-salute-governor-andrew-cuomo/">on his website</a> in March 2020, “We are not at all surprised by his leadership during such a chaotic time and we are so proud of him. We’re lucky to call him ‘The Godfather,’ his favorite title, and our friend.”
In March 2020, Handler penned an <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/chelsea-handler-andrew-cuomo-love-letter">article in Vogue</a> with the gushing title, “Dear Andrew Cuomo, I Want to Be Your First Lady.” She wrote:
<blockquote>Between watching episodes of Tiger King and episodes of Trump’s daily press briefings and trying to find more marijuana to ingest, I quicken to something that cuts through the insanity. Out of the darkness, you, Andrew Cuomo, walk into my life, looking remarkably like the Incredible Hulk.… Thank you, Andrew Cuomo. Thank you for reminding us that there are men who can lead and be clear and tell the truth—even when the news is bad. Who practice benevolent ruthlessness. (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/opinion/sunday/cuomo-new-york-coronavirus.html" data-event-click="{&quot;element&quot;:&quot;ExternalLink&quot;,&quot;outgoingURL&quot;:&quot;https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/opinion/sunday/cuomo-new-york-coronavirus.html&quot;}">Thanks, Maureen Dowd</a>.) Who speak to Americans with respect. Thank you for being a leader at a time when so many of us were desperately looking for one.</blockquote>
Cher had her moment of gushing in April 2020, tweeting, “I’m in love with Andrew Cuomo.”
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I’m in Love With Andrew Cuomo 💋 “ANDY”🎶
&mdash; Cher (@cher) <a href="https://twitter.com/cher/status/1250284742483660800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The same month, Sarah Silverman wrote, “I really hope @NYGovCuomo sees this awesome @RandyRainbow video from one great New Yorker to another.”
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I really hope <a href="https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYGovCuomo</a> sees this awesome <a href="https://twitter.com/RandyRainbow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RandyRainbow</a> video from one great New Yorker to another (<a href="https://twitter.com/chelseahandler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chelseahandler</a> you got competish) <a href="https://t.co/nms03dutck">https://t.co/nms03dutck</a>
&mdash; Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahKSilverman/status/1247312175259156480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Janice Dean

Janice Dean Names Celebrities Who Lauded Cuomo: Apologize To The Women And Families

Andrew Cuomo

Chelsea Handler

Cher

Sarah Silverman

Whoopi Goldberg

Hollywood star Ben Stiller, the son of the legendary comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, insisted that Hollywood was “ultimately” a “meritocracy” after criticism surfaced of the new film “The Rightway,” which is directed by Steven Spielberg’s daughter Destry, written by author Stephen King&#8217;s son Owen King, and features a cast of children of famous actors.
The comment from Stiller was precipitated by Vanity Fair contributing editor Franklin Leonard, who tweeted, “Hollywood&#8217;s a meritocracy, right?” in response to a tweet that noted, “Hopper Penn (Sean Penn’s son) and Brian D’Arcy James have been cast in ‘THE RIGHTWAY’ from director Destry Spielberg (Steven Spielberg’s daughter) and writer Owen King (Stephen King’s son).”
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Hollywood&#39;s a meritocracy, right? <a href="https://t.co/jELCVujYyB">https://t.co/jELCVujYyB</a>
&mdash; Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) <a href="https://twitter.com/franklinleonard/status/1420194758496976898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Stiller responded, “Too easy @franklinleonard. People, working, creating. Everyone has their path. Wish them all the best.&#8221;
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Too easy <a href="https://twitter.com/franklinleonard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@franklinleonard</a>. People, working, creating. Everyone has their path. Wish them all the best.
&mdash; Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenStiller/status/1420202550083473418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Leonard replied, “I do, without fail, but I also think it&#8217;s important that we acknowledge those paths.”
Stiller stated, “Yes. Just speaking from experience, and I don’t know any of them, I would bet they all have faced challenges. Different than those with no access to the industry. Show biz as we all know is pretty rough, and ultimately is a meritocracy.”
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Yes. Just speaking from experience, and I don’t know any of them, I would bet they all have faced challenges. Different than those with no access to the industry. Show biz as we all know is pretty rough, and ultimately is a meritocracy.
&mdash; Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenStiller/status/1420208066998333447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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That impelled Leonard to respond, “I don&#8217;t for a second doubt that they&#8217;ve all faced challenges. They&#8217;re human. I simply reject the claim that the industry is &#8211; in the short term or long term &#8211; a meritocracy. If it were, how do you explain the utter lack of diversity behind the camera? Lack of merit?”
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I don&#39;t for a second doubt that they&#39;ve all faced challenges. They&#39;re human. I simply reject the claim that the industry is &#8211; in the short term or long term &#8211; a meritocracy.
If it were, how do you explain the utter lack of diversity behind the camera? Lack of merit?
&mdash; Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) <a href="https://twitter.com/franklinleonard/status/1420208497648541696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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“100 percent agree,” Stiller echoed. “Diversity is much bigger issue. No question. And I see your point, access is access. So yes. I’m saying that untalented people don’t really last if they get a break because of who they are or know or are related to.”
Leonard would not be dissuaded, answering, “Fundamentally disagree, and again numbers don&#8217;t lie. Based only on the exclusion of other folks, statistically speaking, roughly 1/3 of the industry has their job not because of merit, but because of other factors (who they know, colonial legacy, sexism, whatever).”
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Fundamentally disagree, and again numbers don&#39;t lie. 
Based only on the exclusion of other folks, statistically speaking, roughly 1/3 of the industry has their job not because of merit, but because of other factors (who they know, colonial legacy, sexism, whatever).
&mdash; Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) <a href="https://twitter.com/franklinleonard/status/1420212204536619010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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He added, “And we both know plenty of unqualified people who manage to stay employed for reasons other than their talent, though both of us have enough decorum not to name names.
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And we both know plenty of unqualified people who manage to stay employed for reasons other than their talent, though both of us have enough decorum not to name names.
&mdash; Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) <a href="https://twitter.com/franklinleonard/status/1420212273084211203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Commenting on a Twitter user who pointed out nepotism is common in other fields. Leonard wrote, “The difference is that most of those folks will acknowledge the nepotism that contributed to their success. Like I said, Hollywood folks tend to believe that it&#8217;s a pure meritocracy and their success is an indication of their merit alone.”
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The difference is that most of those folks will acknowledge the nepotism that contributed to their success. Like I said, Hollywood folks tend to believe that it&#39;s a pure meritocracy and their success is an indication of their merit alone.
&mdash; Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) <a href="https://twitter.com/franklinleonard/status/1420547386984714242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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That prompted Stiller to answer, “Wow. Really? I totally owe a huge debt to my folks and in no way have said I didn’t. Why make broad generalizations? You argument about diversity is very sound and I agreed with it.”
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Wow. Really? I totally owe a huge debt to my folks and in no way have said I didn’t. Why make broad generalizations? You argument about diversity is very sound and I agreed with it.
&mdash; Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenStiller/status/1420548716096753669?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Leonard concluded, “I don&#8217;t believe I&#8217;ve ever said or suggested that you said that you didn&#8217;t. Just that you said that Hollywood is a meritocracy. But again, I think we probably both know people do who believe that their success is solely a product of their merit and their merit alone. But again, the industry&#8217;s failure on diversity is linked, closely, to the extent to which personal and familial relationships dictate opportunity and career sustainability in Hollywood.”
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But again, the industry&#39;s failure on diversity is linked, closely, to the extent to which personal and familial relationships dictate opportunity and career sustainability in Hollywood.
&mdash; Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) <a href="https://twitter.com/franklinleonard/status/1420549741692153862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Destry Spielberg weighed in on the debate, saying, &#8220;I am just a young aspiring female filmmaker who admires the art of cinema. People can argue nepotism, but I know deep down that I worked hard to get where I am and it wasn&#8217;t easy. Beyond proud of this film and proud of the team it took to make it,” then later tweeting, “I acknowledge that i was born with privilege! I own that through and through! I make it my mission to bring new talent into the industry &amp; give opportunities to artists of all backgrounds. No one should be left out because of the connections they don’t have,” according to <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1294672/steven-spielbergs-daughter-destry-addresses-nepotism-claims-after-ben-stiller-sparks-debate">E Online</a>.

Zoolander

Hollywood Star Ben Stiller Insists Hollywood’s A ‘Meritocracy’

Fox News senior meteorologist Janice Dean ripped into Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for hosting a pricey, extravagant virtual birthday party/fundraiser packed with celebrities while his state suffers under lockdown restrictions and the fatal consequences of his early nursing home orders.
&#8220;Restaurants closing, kids out of school, families losing loved ones and livelihoods but [Gov. Andrew Cuomo] is going to celebrate his birthday with his celebrity friends and raise thousands of dollars for himself,&#8221; Dean wrote, tagging attending celebrities: &#8220;Shame on [Whoopi Goldberg], [Ben Stiller], [Rosie Perez], [Henry Winkler].&#8221;
&#8220;PS for all of you defenders saying &#8216;but but it’s virtual!&#8217; the point was NOT about the event itself,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;It’s that [Gov. Andrew Cuomo] continues to raise money for himself while others are struggling to provide for their families.&#8221;
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PS for all of you defenders saying “but but it’s virtual!” the point was NOT about the event itself. It’s that <a href="https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYGovCuomo</a> continues to raise money for himself while others are struggling to provide for their families.
&mdash; Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaniceDean/status/1337835457468567554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Dean, not a political figure, became a fiery advocate for the elderly after both of her husband&#8217;s parents died at long-term care facilities that were adhering to policies Cuomo approved, which proved deadly.
Cuomo required nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to take in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/andrew-cuomo-finally-reverses-order-forcing-nursing-homes-to-take-covid-patients-demands-testing-for-care-workers">COVID-19-positive patients</a>, where the virus is far and away most deadly. The Democrat only <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/andrew-cuomo-finally-reverses-order-forcing-nursing-homes-to-take-covid-patients-demands-testing-for-care-workers">reversed</a> the policy on May 10, after thousands of deaths.
Actor Ben Stiller, one of the Hollywood celebrities to be featured at the expensive event, angrily replied to Dean in a now-deleted <a href="https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/12/13/actor-ben-stiller-backtracks-and-apologizes-after-janice-dean-calls-him-out-over-cuomos-fundraiser-1005473/">post</a>: “Nothing wrong with supporting a politician. As you know the current president has been soliciting hundreds of millions to overturn the election, not for COVID relief. You wrote a book about spreading sunshine apparently.. You don’t like the Governor. I do. Don’t be divisive. Bye.&#8221;
As <a href="https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/12/13/actor-ben-stiller-backtracks-and-apologizes-after-janice-dean-calls-him-out-over-cuomos-fundraiser-1005473/">noted</a> by BizPac Review, Stiller was seemingly unaware Dean’s book “Mostly Sunny: How I Learned to Keep Smiling Through the Rainiest Days” &#8220;is about her struggle with multiple sclerosis.&#8221;
&#8220;Nothing wrong with criticizing a politician who likes to profit off the deaths of New Yorkers. (He wrote a book too about &#8216;leadership&#8217; during a pandemic),&#8221; Dean responded to Stiller. &#8220;You’re right, I don’t like the governor because his policies help kill my husbands parents. Enjoy your fundraiser.&#8221;
&#8220;I’m sorry for your loss. I’m not into coming down on people. You called me out. We all are dealing with this and I believe we need to be less divisive. All the best,&#8221; Stiller backtracked, noting that he deleted his initial tweet.
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I’m sorry for your loss. I’m not into coming down on people. You called me out. We all are dealing with this and I believe we need to be less divisive. All the best.
&mdash; Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenStiller/status/1337904745210671105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;It seems as though it’s ok for you to criticize Trump (and those who support him) and for me to not criticize a man (and those who support him) who’s bad decisions lead to the deaths of thousands of seniors,&#8221; Dean replied. &#8220;I am sorry for your loss as well and all the best to you.&#8221;
&#8220;I apologize for being ignorant of your circumstance,&#8221; Stiller said. &#8220;I would not have replied to your tweet if I did. I Wish you and your family all the best in this very hard time.&#8221;
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I apologize for being ignorant of your circumstance. I would not have replied to your tweet if I did. I Wish you and your family all the best in this very hard time.
&mdash; Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenStiller/status/1337911247463993344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Dean, true to form, accepted Stiller&#8217;s apology.
&#8220;Apology accepted,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;I appreciate your reply and the kindness that came with it.&#8221;
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Apology accepted. I appreciate your reply and the kindness that came with it.
&mdash; Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaniceDean/status/1337914229920292868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Cuomo&#8217;s &#8220;Birthday &amp; Holiday Reception&#8221; for his 63rd birthday is set for Dec. 17, with tickets put to $10,000 a pop. Stiller, it seems, is still set on attending.
Radio.com <a href="https://www.radio.com/1010wins/news/state/andrew-cuomo-to-celebrate-birthday-with-robert-deniro">reported</a> on the event: &#8220;The remaining ticket prices are $5,000 (&#8216;Friend&#8217;), $2,500 (&#8216;Patron&#8217;), $1,000 (&#8216;Guest&#8217;) and $50 (&#8216;Young Professional/Activist&#8217;). All of these ticket categories give access to the main reception for varying numbers of people, ranging from six to one.&#8221;
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&#8220;A $10,000 ticket for the Thursday, Dec. 17 bash includes a &#8216;host reception&#8217; with Cuomo &#8212; who the Associated Press has reported is one of the candidates president-elect Joe Biden is considering for Attorney General &#8212; as well as access to the main reception afterwards,&#8221; the report added. &#8220;Tickets are considered political contributions to Andrew Cuomo for New York, Inc.&#8221;
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<a href="https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/12/13/actor-ben-stiller-backtracks-and-apologizes-after-janice-dean-calls-him-out-over-cuomos-fundraiser-1005473/">H/t</a> BizPac Review

Ben Stiller, Janice Dean

Ben Stiller Apologizes After Janice Dean Calls Him Out Over Cuomo Fundraiser

Ben Stiller will not be caving to the woke mob by removing President Trump&#8217;s cameo from his 2001 comedy &#8220;Zoolander.&#8221;
Speaking on The Daily Beast podcast “<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ben-stiller-on-the-new-abnormal/id1456474041?i=1000482636729">The New Abnormal</a>,” Stiller said that President Trump&#8217;s appearance will remain, noting that his cameo was a spur of the moment opportunity at the VH1 Fashion Awards red carpet pre-show.
“We were shooting at the now defunct VH1 Fashion Awards … and as people were coming up the red carpet, we pulled them aside and asked them to talk about Derek Zoolander, and so Trump and Melania did that,” Stiller said, as reported by the New York Post. “I’ve had people reach out to me and say, ‘You should edit Donald Trump out of “Zoolander,”’ but at the end of the day, that was a time when that exists and that happened.&#8221;
&#8220;There were so many movies [back then] that had a silly cameo from Donald Trump,” Stiller said. “He represented a certain thing,&#8221; he later added.
Ben Stiller also believes that President Trump will always appreciate the fact that he was a part of “Zoolander.” In 2016, for instance, Stiller shared a theory with MSNBC host Chris Matthews as to why he thought “Zoolander 2” did so poorly.
“There was a funny story that Chris Matthews told me,” he said, as reported by the <a href="https://torontosun.com/entertainment/movies/ben-stiller-wont-cut-donald-trump-out-of-zoolander/wcm/72f30e68-a126-4ffa-822d-3a687131e49c">Toronto Sun</a>. “He was interviewing Trump during the (2016 Presidential) campaign and there was a commercial break. ‘Zoolander 2’ had come out and … was a big bomb, didn’t do well … And they’d been talking about nuclear arms or something and what his (Trump’s) stance would be with the Russians, and then … Trump brought up ‘Zoolander 2’ and started talking about why he thought the movie didn’t do well.”
“And he started going into detail (saying), ‘It’s just that in the culture people don’t care about male models any more.’ And Chris found it so interesting that he was so fascinated about why ‘Zoolander 2’ didn’t do well as opposed to what to do with the Russians and nuclear arms proliferation,&#8221; he continued.
This past Christmas, it appeared that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) cut President Trump&#8217;s cameo in the movie &#8220;Home Alone 2&#8221; for political reasons; that theory was, however, debunked by the fact that those edits were made in 2014 before Trump ran for president.
&#8220;As is often the case with feature films adapted for television, ‘Home Alone 2’ was edited for time. The scene with Donald Trump was one of several that were cut from the movie as none of them were integral to the plot,&#8221; the CBC <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-trumps-home-alone-2-cameo-was-cut-canada-1265005">said in a statement</a>. &#8220;These edits were done in 2014 when we first acquired the film and before Mr. Trump was elected President.&#8221;
According to Matt Damon, Trump also had a cameo in the Oscar-winning movie &#8220;Scent of a Woman&#8221; that was left on the cutting room floor.
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“The deal was that if you wanted to shoot in one of his buildings, you had to write him in a part,” <a href="https://ew.com/movies/2017/09/02/donald-trump-matt-damon-scent-of-a-woman/">Damon said</a>. “[Director] Martin Brest had to write something in Scent of a Woman — and the whole crew was in on it. You have to waste an hour of your day with a bullsh– shot: Donald Trump walks in and Al Pacino’s like, ‘Hello, Mr. Trump!’ — you had to call him by name — and then he exits. You waste a little time so that you can get the permit, and then you can cut the scene out. But I guess in ‘Home Alone 2’ they left it in.”
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Ben Stiller Refuses To Remove Trump From ‘Zoolander’

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