Ben Stiller has found himself in hot water after sharing his bold views on nepotism in Hollywood.
The actor and director, 55, responded to a tweet by Franklin Leonard, founder of The Black List, in which he shared an article about the children of several Hollywood stars working on a short film together.
"Hollywood's a meritocracy, right?" Leonard tweeted on Tuesday.
Leonard was referring to the upcoming short film The Rightway, starring Hopper Penn, Sean Penn's son, and Brian d'Arcy James.
The film is being directed by Destry Spielberg, Steven Spielberg's daughter, and was written by Owen King, Stephen King's son.
It wasn't long before Stiller, 55, responded to Leonard's tweet, writing: "Too easy @franklinleonard. People, working, creating. Everyone has their path. Wish them all the best."
"Just speaking from experience, and I don’t know any of them, I would bet they all have faced challenges,” the Night at The Museum actor said while defending The Rightway cast.
"Different than those with no access to the industry. Showbiz as we all know is pretty rough, and ultimately is a meritocracy."
Leonard then questioned "the utter lack of diversity behind the camera" and the project’s "lack of merit".
"I don’t for a second doubt that they’ve all faced challenges," he wrote. "They’re human. I simply reject the claim that the industry is – in the short term or long term – a meritocracy. If it were, how do you explain the utter lack of diversity behind the camera? Lack of merit?"
Stiller then wrote back: "100 per cent agree. 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."
It wasn't long before fans hit out at Stiller over his comments, with many highlighting that the actor lacks "self-awareness" as he, too, had very famous parents.
Stiller's late father Jerry was a household name in Hollywood, meanwhile, his late mother Anne Meara was also a famous actress.
It was then when fans rushed to Twitter to slam Stiller's comments.
"Thanks [Ben Stiller] for reminding everyone that your only real credit in Hollywood is due to your parents," one person wrote.
Another added: "Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara’s son would like you to know that Hollywood ‘ultimately is a meritocracy.'"
While a third wrote: "Lol Ben Stiller, son of comedy legends Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara claims Hollywood is a meritocracy. How many Black, Latino, Native & Asian people do you think had parents who were in a position to give them their first acting gigs?"
"Not Ben Stiller lacking self-awareness!!!" Another added.
Stiller's acting career began when he was just 9 as a guest on his mother's TV series Kate McShane. In 20o6, the actor told Parade magazine he had "a show-business upbringing - a lot of traveling, a lot of late nights - not what you'd call traditional."
Meanwhile, his older sister, Anne, also appeared on several of his own films including Reality Bites, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and Zoolander.
Stiller's children, daughter Ella Olivia Stiller and son Quinn Stiller, have also had roles in some of his famous films.
The actor directed Ella in an episode of his miniseries Escape at Dannemora in 2018. Ella has also had roles in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, and 2020's Hubie Halloween, both of which Stiller also starred in.
Meanwhile, Quinn appeared in an uncredited role in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and had a small role in this year's Locked Down starring Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
