Ben Stiller hits out at White House for using 'Zoolander' in Iran propaganda stunt
We thought we'd seen it all when it comes to political PR. After Tom Cruise and his Top Gun being drafted in to scare the enemy, now the White House has set its sights on a titan of absurd comedy: Ben Stiller. Yes, you read that right. The US administration, in yet another attempt at an 'image war' against Iran, has plundered cult film Zoolander for a montage presumably intended to be menacing. Except the man himself didn't find it remotely funny. And he's let everyone know, with that trademark feistiness we've come to expect.
When Derek Zoolander becomes a weapon of mass communication
For anyone who's been living under a rock for the past two decades, Zoolander is the story of a dim-witted male model, good-looking but completely vacant, played by Ben Stiller, who gets brainwashed into becoming an assassin. It's absurd, offbeat, and above all a scathing satire of the fashion world. So, using this character to send a geopolitical message to Tehran is a bit like sending up Jonah Hill (his sidekick from Superbad and Horrible Bosses) to negotiate a peace treaty: the intention might be there, but the result is inevitably farcical. Yet, the White House comms team seem to love this 'go with your gut' method, an approach already well-rehearsed back in the previous administration. Having nicked Top Gun, they're now turning to pure comedy.
And then, shock horror: Ben Stiller stumbles upon the video. Far from laughing it off, he leaps to the defence on social media, calling the initiative "sad" and stressing his utter disagreement. You can see why. To see his work, the result of years of graft (remember his early days with The Ben Stiller Show, the sketch show that launched his career), twisted into a propaganda tool to justify strikes or threats – it's enough to make you see red. Especially when you consider the bloke has also directed more serious films like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, where he actually explores the weight of dreams against reality.
Three reasons why this hijacking is a total disaster
- The tonal mismatch: Using an absurd comedy to address an armed conflict is like sending a clown to a funeral. It just doesn't fit, and it annoys everyone.
- The artist being trampled on: Ben Stiller isn't a puppet. He's built a demanding filmography, from the original Zoolander to more dramatic roles, and seeing his work co-opted without his consent justifiably outrages him.
- Political clumsiness: After Top Gun, Zoolander… at this rate, next up will be Dumb and Dumber. A war comms strategy that descends into the ridiculous helps no one – neither American credibility nor peace.
In the end, this whole affair reminds us of one thing: Ben Stiller isn't just a brilliant comedian; he's also a director and actor who cares about his legacy. If the White House was hoping for some controlled buzz, they've mainly succeeded in annoying a decent bloke and triggering widespread hilarity among those who know the film. Because yes, there is something utterly absurd about imagining Derek Zoolander, with his vacant stare and ridiculous poses, being used as a geopolitical threat. In the meantime, we're having a laugh, but let's not forget that behind the meme, there's an angry artist and real human lives. Perhaps the comms advisors should, before dipping into pop culture, watch Walter Mitty to ponder the line between dream and reality. Or simply re-read the Zoolander script: ultimately, the model only manages to… well, mess things up completely. Sound familiar?