Ben Stiller stole the show at the 2025 Oscars—not just for his onstage antics, but for his unwavering dedication to his beloved New York Knicks. While presenting at the star-studded event, the 59-year-old actor and director made waves online for his real-time reaction to the Knicks’ overtime victory, proving that even Hollywood’s biggest night couldn’t distract him from his favorite team.
On Sunday, March 2, Stiller took the stage to present the Academy Award for Best Production Design.
True to his comedic roots, he performed a humorous bit in which he attempted to deliver his speech from a sunken platform that wouldn’t rise to stage level.
The Severance director eventually climbed out of the predicament before announcing Wicked as the winner.
However, it was what he did immediately after leaving the stage that had fans talking. Just moments after stepping off, Stiller took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a celebratory update about the Knicks’ 116-114 overtime win against the Miami Heat.
“KNICKS WIN,” he wrote, a simple yet passionate declaration that quickly went viral.
The post ignited a firestorm of reactions from fans, who were both amused and impressed by his commitment to the team.
“I’m crying bro, you’re at the Oscars,” one fan replied, racking up over five million views by Monday morning.
“Ben’s tweet is Knicks fandom summed up in a nutshell,” another user commented, while someone else quipped, “He got courtside seats at the Oscars.”
Even an hour later, Stiller was still in game mode, replying to the thread with another enthusiastic, “Go Knicks.”
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A Lifelong Knicks Fan First, Oscar Presenter Second
Stiller’s viral moment at the Oscars is hardly surprising to those who follow him. The actor has long been one of the Knicks’ most passionate celebrity supporters, frequently posting reactions to their games.
Just days before the Oscars, on February 28, he had tweeted “KNICKS WIN” after their victory over the Memphis Grizzlies—albeit with an accidental typo, writing “KNKCKS WIN.”
His dedication extends beyond social media. In January, Stiller attended a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden and shared a special moment with a fan who won a 2025 Kia Telluride X-Line. The actor gave the lucky attendee a heartfelt hug, showing his appreciation for the team’s community.
That same night, he was spotted at the game with Severance cast members Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, and Britt Lower. Basketball, it seems, has become a way for the cast and crew to bond outside of production.
Balancing Hollywood and Hoops
As Stiller explained to PEOPLE earlier this year, filming Severance Season 2 took 186 days—an intense schedule that forged close relationships among the cast and crew.
“When we went to shoot episode four on location in the mountains, that was fun,” Stiller recalled. “We had a wrap party for that episode at a roller rink. That was awesome.”
He also shared that the team found time to enjoy small moments together, including witnessing a solar eclipse during filming. “I have pictures of us all going outside of the stage in the Bronx there to look at that,” he said.
Lower, who plays Helly Riggs in the Apple TV+ series, added that the cast found ways to keep things light between takes. “We play a lot of childlike games that have rules that change rapidly,” she said. “It’s a very sterile environment, and I think we find a lot of levity from just goofing around together.”
While Stiller’s work in Hollywood remains at the forefront, his heart is never far from the Knicks. Whether he’s on the red carpet, directing a hit TV series, or presenting at the Oscars, he always finds time to cheer on his team—proving once again that basketball and entertainment can go hand in hand.
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