Ben Stiller slammed Pat McAfee after the ESPN host called him out during the Knicks loss to the Pacers
The actor said he and pals Spike Lee and Timothée Chalemet were “happy to be there” in Indiana supporting their team
Stiller described the fans in Indianapolis as “incredibly cool” in a reply on X
Ben Stiller thinks Pat McAfee was being “weird” at the Knicks game.
Stiller, 59, was among the stars sitting courtside at the fourth game of the Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday, May 27 in Indianapolis cheering on the rival team, along with fellow Knicks diehards Timothée Chalamet and Spike Lee.
At the beginning of the game, McAfee, 38 — who played for the Indianapolis Colts before his ESPN career — was given a microphone and delivered a NSFW message for fans while singling out Stiller, Chalamet and Lee.
“Spike Lee is here. Ben Stiller is here. Timothée Chalamet is here,” McAfee said to the arena, as the crowd booed each one. “Let’s send these sons of b—— back to New York!”
After the interaction at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis — and after the Pacers beat the his Knicks 130-121 — Stiller, 59, made his feelings about McAfee’s message known.
Gregory Shamus/Getty
Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller are seen prior to Game Four between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers
In a response to a video of the moment, Stiller wrote, “Yes. Weird. We were happy to be there and cheer our team and other than that Indy fans were awesome.” The actor added, “#KNICKSIN7” to the post.
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In another reply, Stiller said, “It’s ok. He must be playing around – if it’s an actual point of view it seems a little anachronistic or cliche? Like we are ‘big city celebs’ and we shouldn’t be there in the heartland? Again, everyone we met was awesome and incredibly cool.”
Dylan Buell/Getty
Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller at the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers game on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
One user replied to Stiller and promised, “They were all affectionate boos I promise you.”
“I actually felt that,” Stiller said back.
The Night at the Museum star assured fans he wasn’t feeling bitter about the remark from McAfee or the loss to the Pacers. “No bitterness at all Indy fans were amazing good win for you guys,” Stiller wrote in a reply.
The Knicks, including stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, lost Game 4 in Indianapolis on Tuesday, giving the Pacers a 3-1 series lead to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals. The Knicks will need to win three games in a row to avoid elimination.
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