Ben Stiller has responded to Pat McAfee’s jabs regarding his presence at the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, where he supported his beloved New York Knicks. Stiller, alongside other notable New Yorkers like Timothée Chalamet and filmmaker Spike Lee, attended the game in Indianapolis against the Indiana Pacers.
During the game, McAfee, a devoted Pacers supporter, took to the mic and aimed playful criticism at the celebrity attendees, suggesting they should return to New York in defeat. “Indianapolis, Indiana, we got some bigwigs from the big city in the building… Let’s send these sons of bitches back to New York with their ears bleeding!” he declared, leading to a chorus of boos from the crowd as he introduced each star.
Despite the banter, Stiller took to social media to express his enjoyment of the experience, stating, “Yes. Weird. We were happy to be there and cheer our team and other than that Indy fans were awesome. #KNICKSIN7.” He further elaborated that he felt McAfee’s remarks came off as outdated, explaining, “It seems a little anachronistic or cliche? Like we are ‘big city celebs’ and we shouldn’t be there in the heartland?”
Stiller clarified that he had no hard feelings about McAfee’s comments and praised the Indiana fans for their hospitality, emphasizing, “No bitterness at all Indy fans were amazing good win for you guys.”
Stiller’s good-natured response reflects the camaraderie often found in sports, even among rival fans, and serves as a reminder that sports events can unite people from different backgrounds, fostering mutual respect and enjoyment in the spirit of competition.