Actor Ben Stiller found himself at the center of a social media firestorm after a celebratory basketball tweet was mistaken for commentary on a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night.
Timing Creates Confusion
Stiller posted “Got it done” on X after the New York Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 114-98 in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Saturday night. The tweet came as the game ended around the same time a suspected gunman disrupted the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The unfortunate timing led some readers to believe the longtime Knicks fan was commenting on the security incident rather than celebrating his team’s victory.
Congresswoman Nancy Mace responded directly to Stiller’s post, asking “Got what done?” Her response suggested she believed the actor was referencing the Washington incident. The platform’s Community Notes feature later clarified that Stiller was live-tweeting throughout the basketball game and celebrating the Knicks’ performance. The die-hard Knicks fan had attended Game 2 of the series at Madison Square Garden, sitting in Celebrity Row during the team’s 107-106 loss to Atlanta.
The actor Ben Stiller, a diehard Knicks fan, posted about the Knicks winning a basketball game yesterday. Thousands of people, including a sitting member of Congress, think he was cheering on a failed (!) assassination attempt. This website rots your brain. https://t.co/H4eoiRv7EP pic.twitter.com/JWZGnrguYv
— Isaac Saul (@Ike_Saul) April 27, 2026
What Happened in Washington
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner faced a serious security breach when suspected gunman Cole Tomas Allen passed through a security checkpoint at the venue. President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and members of the administration were safely evacuated from the event. One law enforcement agent sustained non-serious gunshot injuries, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated the suspect appeared to target administration officials. No other casualties were reported from the incident.
Playoff Series Continues
The confusion surrounding Stiller’s tweet highlighted the challenges of social media communication during multiple major events. Some observers noted that Stiller has been a vocal critic of President Trump in the past, which may have fueled speculation about his intent. The actor posted a salute emoji Sunday morning but has not directly addressed the controversy. The Eastern Conference playoff series between the Knicks and Hawks stands tied at 2-2, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The series will return to Atlanta for Game 6, with a potential Game 7 in New York if necessary.
