Ben Stiller Denies Receiving USAID Money, Blames Russian Media for False Claims

Ben Stiller has firmly denied claims that he received money from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to support Ukraine. The Hollywood actor called the accusations "100% false" and blamed Russian media for spreading misinformation.

The false claims surfaced on social media, alleging that USAID paid Stiller $4 million, Angelina Jolie $20 million, and Sean Penn $5 million to advocate for Ukraine. However, a fact-checking note on X (formerly Twitter) debunked the claim, pointing out that its source was a Russian website considered unreliable in the context of the war.

“These are lies coming from Russian media,” Stiller stated on his official account. “I completely self-funded my humanitarian trip to Ukraine. There was no funding from USAID and certainly no payment of any kind.”

The controversy comes as USAID faces increased scrutiny, with Elon Musk accusing the organization of misusing taxpayer money. Musk, assigned by former President Donald Trump to investigate government spending, has halted USAID’s operations for an audit. His actions have sparked backlash from Democrats, who argue he is overstepping his authority.

Despite the fact-checking efforts, the false claims gained traction online, with one version of the misleading video racking up nearly a million views. Screenshots from the video continued to circulate, fueling misinformation.

As Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its third year, political debates over U.S. involvement and aid continue to intensify. Meanwhile, Stiller remains firm in his stance, shutting down any suggestion that he profited from his humanitarian work.