Ben Stiller meets with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, tells Ukrainian leader 'You're my hero'
Ben Stiller meets with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, tells Ukrainian leader 'You're my hero'
"Zoolander" met Zelenskyy on Monday as actor Ben Stiller visited Kyiv to mark World Refugee Day.
"Zoolander" met Zelenskyy on Monday as actor Ben Stiller visited Kyiv to mark World Refugee Day.
The comedy star praised the Ukrainian president — himself a former comedian and actor — as a hero during the meeting, telling him: “You’re amazing.”
The comedy star praised the Ukrainian president — himself a former comedian and actor — as a hero during the meeting, telling him: “You’re amazing.”
Stiller visited Zelenskyy in his role as an ambassador for the United Nations refugee agency
Stiller visited Zelenskyy in his role as an ambassador for the United Nations refugee agency
It comes as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to force millions of people to flee the war-torn country,
It comes as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to force millions of people to flee the war-torn country,
exacerbating a growing global crisis that has seen the number of displaced people pass 100 million for the first time on record.
exacerbating a growing global crisis that has seen the number of displaced people pass 100 million for the first time on record.
"It's a great honor for me," Stiller, who was appointed a UNHCR goodwill ambassador in July 2018
"It's a great honor for me," Stiller, who was appointed a UNHCR goodwill ambassador in July 2018
said in video capturing the meeting. "It's really wonderful, you're my hero. You're amazing," he said.
said in video capturing the meeting. "It's really wonderful, you're my hero. You're amazing," he said.
"We know you very well," Zelenskyy said of the "Zoolander" star.
"We know you very well," Zelenskyy said of the "Zoolander" star.
The pair found common ground in their shared roots in the entertainment industry
The pair found common ground in their shared roots in the entertainment industry
with Zelenskyy having previously played a Ukrainian president in a popular television show before his real-life landslide election victory in 2019.
with Zelenskyy having previously played a Ukrainian president in a popular television show before his real-life landslide election victory in 2019.
“You quit a great acting career for this,” Stiller told Zelenskyy, praising the president for his leadership in the war.
“You quit a great acting career for this,” Stiller told Zelenskyy, praising the president for his leadership in the war.
“Not so great as you,” the Ukrainian leader quipped.
“Not so great as you,” the Ukrainian leader quipped.
"No, but pretty great," Stiller responded. "But what you've done and the way that you've rallied the country and for the world
"No, but pretty great," Stiller responded. "But what you've done and the way that you've rallied the country and for the world
it's really inspiring," he said.
it's really inspiring," he said.
AVALANCHE GAME 3 REPORT CARD
AVALANCHE GAME 3 REPORT CARD
Learn more