Actor Ben Stiller found himself in the middle of a huge social media backlash after a post he made was completely misunderstood by people who had no idea he was talking about basketball. Stiller, a well-known fan of the New York Knicks, had been following his team’s game against the Atlanta Hawks all evening. When the Knicks finally secured a 114-98 win, he jumped onto X to share his excitement with a simple, “Got it done.”
This post went live just 20 minutes after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, forcing the evacuation of high-profile guests from the venue. Because of the timing, many people assumed Stiller was making a cold and callous comment about the shooting rather than celebrating his favorite team’s victory. It didn’t take long for the internet to turn on him, with users flooding his feed to demand an explanation or express their outrage.
According to The Independent, republican lawmaker Nancy Mace was among those who replied, asking him directly, “Got what done?” Richard Grenell, the former director of the Kennedy Center, also responded, simply saying, “Wtf?” The situation escalated quickly as more users piled on. One person wrote, “Actually, the shooter missed.” Another added, “Looks like you have another unfortunate post you’ll need to delete.”
Ben Stiller’s defenders pointed out what his critics were clearly missing
Not everyone believed Stiller had bad intentions. Several of his supporters jumped in to defend him, pointing out the basketball context that his critics were completely missing. One user noted, “Poor guy is just trying to post about Knicks basketball and can’t catch a break.” Another said, “MAGA grifter accounts gathering themselves to go after a guy watching basketball.”
While Stiller is known for being a vocal critic of the current administration, there is no evidence whatsoever that his post had anything to do with the shooting. His representatives have not commented on the situation. The evening had already been marked by awkward moments, including Karoline Leavitt’s pre-dinner remarks about shots fired that aged badly once the real incident unfolded.
The actual incident at the Washington Hilton was serious. A 31-year-old man from California named Cole Tomas Allen allegedly opened fire with a shotgun at a security checkpoint. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that investigators believe the gunman was targeting the administration, and officials are currently examining an alleged manifesto written by Allen, in which he reportedly listed administration officials as his primary targets.
One Secret Service agent was shot but has since been released from the hospital after it was confirmed the bullet hit their protective vest. The dinner was canceled entirely, and the President later praised law enforcement on Truth Social, writing, “Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely.”
According to The Guardian, Allen is set to be arraigned on Monday and faces several serious charges, including assault of a federal officer and discharging a firearm. Federal investigators are still working through the details of his travel history and how he managed to obtain the weapons used in the attack. The President told 60 Minutes that he was not particularly worried during the event, stating, “I understand life. We live in a crazy world.”
In other places, a Republican primary decided by just two votes in North Carolina is now heading toward a recount, showing just how unpredictable the current political landscape has become. As for Stiller, the incident is a clear reminder of how quickly things can spiral out of control on social media when context is stripped away and tensions are already running high.
Published: Apr 27, 2026 11:57 am