Was Ben Stiller Paid MILLIONS To Visit Zelenskyy? Well, Sort Of

Ben Stiller has firmly denied Russian claims of USAID funding for his humanitarian visit to Ukraine, sparking a debate on misinformation and celebrity involvement in global conflicts.

Some say he made $4 million.

At a Glance

  • Ben Stiller refutes claims of receiving USAID funds for his Ukraine trip
  • Viral video alleges millions in USAID funding for celebrity visits
  • Stiller’s denial highlights ongoing challenges with false or confusing narratives in geopolitical conflicts
  • USAID faces scrutiny amid accusations of misusing taxpayer money

Actor Ben Stiller has forcefully denied allegations that he received funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for his humanitarian trip to Ukraine. The Hollywood star found himself at the center of a swirling controversy after a viral video, reportedly originating from a dubious Russian source, claimed that USAID had financed visits by several celebrities, including Stiller, to the war-torn nation.

“There was no funding from USAID and certainly no payment of any kind,” Stiller said.

“These are lies coming from Russian media,” he added.

The actor’s rebuttal comes in response to a video shared widely on social media, which alleged that USAID had provided substantial sums to celebrities for their visits to Ukraine. The video claimed that Stiller received $4 million, while asserting that Angelina Jolie and Sean Penn were given $20 million and $5 million, respectively.

Misinformation Spreads Despite Fact-Checking Efforts

Despite community notes on social media platforms identifying the original source of the claims as an unreliable Russian site, the misleading video garnered nearly a million views. The rapid spread of this misinformation highlights the ongoing challenges in combating false narratives, particularly in the context of geopolitical conflicts.

The false claims gained further traction when prominent figures, including Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr., shared the video on their social media platforms – but thankfully, Elon Musk’s own platform was there to ensure people knew the truth. While the left-wing media spiraled over the fact that Musk shared something that many suggest was wrong, his social media platform’s “Community Notes” featured proved its worth by providing important context.

It should have served as the evidence left-leaning media needed to prove that fact checking doesn’t need to be conducted by well-paid leftist agitators like Politifact, but as you’d probably expect, the media has since doubled down on the “misinformation” line.

Stiller’s visit to Ukraine in June 2022 was part of his role as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on World Refugee Day. During his trip, the actor met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressing admiration for the resilience of the Ukrainian people and their leader.

“Sir, really nice to meet you. Thanks for taking the time. You’re my hero,” Stiller told Zelenskyy at the time.

The actor’s visit aimed to highlight the impact of the ongoing conflict on Ukrainian civilians, with millions displaced due to the war.

USAID Under Scrutiny Amid Controversy

The claims about celebrity funding have coincided with increased scrutiny of USAID’s operations. Elon Musk, the influential tech entrepreneur and CEO enlisted by President Trump to make the U.S. government more efficient, has criticized the agency on his social media platform X, labeling it a “criminal enterprise.” This accusation led to a shutdown of USAID for budget auditing, sparking a heated debate nationally about the organization’s role.

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine enters its third year, and as Musk gets to work auditing USAID, we’re likely to hear more stories about the agency’s influence on the world – and while it may not have been $4 million to an actor this time, he’s uncovering plenty of other shocking things.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR