Elon Musk used an insensitive slur to mock Ben Stiller for his support of Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

On Wednesday (Nov. 27), a tweet from former investment banker and author John LeFevre went viral. In the post, he included a screenshot of a headline, which read, “Ben Stiller says America killed ‘edgier’ comedy,” alongside a photo of Stiller’s Tropical thunder character.

In the controversial 2008 satirical comedy, Stiller plays Tugg Speedman, a method actor known for his portrayal of an autistic farmer named Simple Jack.

“Says this…. Endorsed Harris…,” LeFevre tweeted, referencing the headline. Avid Trump supporter Musk, who the president-elect has hinted will play a role in his Cabinet, reshared the post hours later, adding: “Damn, he went all out.”

Musk’s comment is likely a reference to a line from the movie that Robert Downey Jr.’s character said. says when talking to Tugg about Simple Jack. “Everyone knows you never go all out,” says Downey Jr.’s Kirk Lazarus. against him.

The article shared by LeFevre was based on Stiller’s recent interview with Colliderin which the actor was asked if he thought the controversial 2008 film, which also featured Downey Jr. could be seen in blackface today.

“I doubt it,” Stiller said. “It’s clear that in this environment, edgier comedy is just harder to make. Certainly not at the scale at which we achieved it, also in terms of the economics of the business.

“Even at the time, of course, it was also risky,” he continued. “The only reason we tried it was because I felt like the joke was very clear in terms of who the joke was about: actors trying to do anything to win awards. But now, in this environment, I don’t even know if I would have dared to do it, to tell you the truth. I am honest.”

Although Stiller acknowledged the problematic nature of the Noughties film, he still remains “proud” of it.

“I make no apologies for it Tropical thunder” he tweeted in 2023 in response to a fan who told him to stop apologizing for making the film. ‘I don’t know who told you that. It has always been a controversial film since it opened. Proud of the work everyone has done on it.”

Downey Jr., who earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role, has also defended the film and its use of blackface.

“(Ben) knew exactly what the vision of this was, he executed it, it was impossible not to make it an offensive nightmare of a movie. And 90 percent of my black friends were like, ‘Dude, that was awesome,'” the Marvel star said on an episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast of the same name.

“I can’t disagree with them, but I know where my heart is. I think it is never an excuse to do something that is out of place and out of time, but for me it was a blast from (the issue)… I think having moral psychology is the first task. Sometimes you just have to say, “Yes, I was exhausted.” In my defense: Tropical thunder is about how wrong (blackface) is, so I’ll make an exception.

Last summer, both Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. to a slew of Hollywood stars speaking out in support of Harris.

“I’m very excited about the progress and all the energy and excitement surrounding this movement right now,” Stiller said in a video interview that journalist Nicholas A. Ballasy posted in August. “That’s why I’m here, because it’s time for change, and it seems like it’s happening.”

Meanwhile, Downey Jr. supported and his Avengers co-stars Harris and Tim Walz on Instagram with the hashtag #AssembleForDemocracy.