Ben Stiller denies being paid by USAID to go to Ukraine
Share and Follow


() Actor Ben Stiller is denying claims made in a reportedly debunked social media post alleging that he and other actors were paid millions of dollars by the United States Agency for International Development to visit Ukraine.

“These are lies coming from Russian media,” Stiller posted in response to a video posted on X that makes the claim. “I completely self-funded my humanitarian trip to Ukraine. There was no funding from USAID and certainly no payment of any kind. 100 percent false.”

Stiller had visited Ukraine in 2022 and met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well as refugees amid its ongoing war with Russia.

The video posted on X appears to show a screenshot of a story written by E! News that states that USAID “sponsored” celebrities to go to Ukraine in order to shore up support from Americans. The video also claims actors Angelina Jolie, Sean Penn and Orlando Bloom were paid by the agency. 

The post came from an account called “I Meme Therefore I Am” and was reposted by both billionaire Elon Musk, who owns X, and Donald Trump Jr. It has since racked up millions of views and reposts.

An E! News spokesperson said the news story appearing in the video “is not authentic and did not originate from E! News,” reported AFP’s Factchecker Bill McCarthy in an X post.

E! News did not immediately return a request for comment from . 

The X community notes on the post also state that the “Video has been fabricated to appear as though it came from ENews but there is no evidence that ENews ever reported this.” 

Neither Musk nor Trump Jr. have removed the post. 

Since becoming the head of President Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has launched a widespread effort to eliminate USAID.

Musk alleged that USAID funding was used to launch deadly programs and called it a “criminal organization.”

Trump, under Musk’s recommendation, ordered USAID funding to be paused for 90 days and many of the agency’s staff were fired or put on administrative leave which largely halted the agency’s work.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
America's Finest are being forced to risk everything for a better life

America’s Heroes Sacrificing Safety for a Brighter Future

Frustrated by being criticized, undervalued, and treated as political targets, some police…

Florida Man Scheduled for Execution After Kidnapping and Murdering Woman from Insurance Office

A man who abducted a woman from a Florida insurance office and…
Willow Springs man William O'Brien charged in Western Springs home invasions, attack, car theft, police say

Willow Springs Resident William O’Brien Accused of Western Springs Home Invasions, Assault, and Car Theft, Police Report

WESTERN SPRINGS, Ill. (WLS) — A 36-year-old Willow Springs man faces various…
Driver of car that injured dozens at LA club was shot, attacked by crowd

Crowd Attacks and Shoots Driver After Car Injures Many at LA Club

() Bystanders outside a nightclub in Los Angeles attacked and shot the…
Bill Clinton sent 'warm and gushing' letter for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th

Bill Clinton Wrote an Enthusiastic Birthday Letter to Jeffrey Epstein

Bill Clinton wrote a ‘warm and gushing’ letter which was included in…
Chicago shootings this weekend: At least 16 shot, 4 fatally, in gun violence across city, police say

Weekend of Gun Violence in Chicago: 16 People Shot, Including 4 Fatalities, Police Report

CHICAGO (WLS) — At least 16 people have been shot, four fatally,…
Family of Jabari Peoples adds ALEA to petition seeking information in police shooting involving 18-year-old

Jabari Peoples’ Family Expands Petition to Include ALEA for Details on Police Shooting of 18-Year-Old

HOMEWOOD, Ala. (WIAT) — Lawyers for the family of Jabari Peoples filed…
Surprise shift in Aussies visiting the US

Unexpected Change in Australian Travelers Heading to the US

There’s been an unexpected increase in the number of Australians traveling to…