‘Zoolander 2’ Cast Scandals Leaked; Ben Stiller Caught Groping Penelope Cruz?

by Ernest Aguila / Dec 25, 2015 09:10 AM EST

Ben Stiller at the 'The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty' And 'Zoolander' Special New York Screenings

Fans of the Ben Stiller-directed comedy movie were enamored to preview Derek and Hansel gracing the big screen as the world's top male models, according to Ibtimes. However, it seems that the "Zoolander 2" cast members are involved in a lot of controversy.

One of the many things that garnered the first movie co-written by Justin Theroux was the A-list celebrities that composed the cast and made several cameos in the movie, as stated by the source.

However, recent news has revealed that "Zoolander 2" cast member Benedict Cumberbatch's character gets backlash as he portrays an androgynous, transgender, and non-binary individual, according to Latinospost.

"Cumberbatch's character is clearly portrayed as an over-the-top, cartoonish mockery of androgyne/trans/non-binary individuals," said LGBTQ activist Sarah Rose, as noted by EW. "This is the modern equivalent of using blackface to represent a minority."

An LGTQ activist has since posted an online petition that has received over 20,000 signatures from late November, which calls for a boycott of the film "Zoolander no. 2" due to the controversy surrounding its cast, and studio Paramount, as reported by The Wrap.

Justin Theroux, an actor and screenwriter who co-wrote the film, has expressed his feelings about the controversy surrounding the "Zoolander 2" cast lineup, his latest film with Ben Stiller. He claimed that the anger against Cumberbatch's character is being misdirected, as stated by The Guardian.

"I don't even know what to make of it, because it hurts my feelings in a way," Justin Theroux expressed to The Wrap. "I take great care in the jokes I write, and the umbrage being taken is out of the context of the scene. I wish people would see the movie first."

Moreover, rumors spread around that Ben Stiller was caught groping cast member Penelope Cruz in the film. However, it was unveiled through a new poster released on Wednesday that Ben Stiller, as lead character Derek Zoolander, was shown as being "hands-on" with co-star Penelope Cruz, who portrays Melanie Valentina in the promotional image, courtesy of the Daily Mail UK.