Helena Frye
Will Ferrell made headlines in 2015 when he appeared to hurl a basketball at a cheerleader's face during a Pelicans-Lakers game in New Orleans. The incident, which was later revealed to be a staged scene for his upcoming film *Daddy's Home*, sparked mixed reactions from fans and the public. While some found the stunt entertaining, others criticised the apparent violence against women played for laughs. Ferrell addressed the backlash, clarifying that a soft ball was used and expressing surprise at the speed with which footage of the scene spread online.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2015, 22 January 2015 |
| Location | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans |
| Event | Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans game |
| People Involved | Will Ferrell, Taryn Terrell (TNA pro wrestler and stuntwoman), Mark Wahlberg |
| Movie | Daddy's Home |
| Ferrell's Character | Brad, a sweet-natured radio exec who treasures being a stepfather to his new wife's children |
| Scene | Ferrell's character attempts a half-court shot but misses and hits a cheerleader in the face with the basketball |
| Stunt Coordination | Months of coordinating with the arena, the NBA, the Lakers, and the Pelicans |
| Basketball Type | Nerf-style soft ball |
| Security Presence | Ferrell was escorted out of the game by security guards |
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What You'll Learn
- Will Ferrell's on-court antics were a stunt for his upcoming movie, Daddy's Home
- Ferrell plays a divorced man who re-enters his ex-wife's life when she remarries
- The cheerleader, Taryn Terrell, is a former WWE wrestler
- Ferrell was dragged from the stadium by security, which was also captured on social media
- Ferrell said he was surprised that footage of the scene went viral
Will Ferrell's on-court antics were a stunt for his upcoming movie, Daddy's Home
Will Ferrell's on-court antics were, indeed, a stunt for his upcoming movie, 'Daddy's Home'. Ferrell made a surprise appearance at a Pelicans-Lakers game in New Orleans, taking to the court during halftime. However, instead of making the half-court shot he was supposed to, he threw the basketball and hit a cheerleader in the face with it. Ferrell was then dragged from the stadium by security, all of which was part of the stunt.
The whole scene was captured on social media by fans, and the footage went viral. Ferrell himself acknowledged that he didn't expect it to be that big of a deal. Director Sean Anders also admitted that while they thought the footage might end up on YouTube, they were surprised by how widespread it became.
The stunt was coordinated with the arena, the NBA, the Lakers, and the Pelicans, and required months of planning. Ferrell only had six minutes to film the scene, and he managed to hit the cheerleader with the basketball both times they filmed it. The basketball was a Nerf-style soft ball, but many viewers were still concerned about the perceived violence against women. Ferrell's character in the film is a radio executive and a stepfather to his new wife's children, and the scene in question depicts him drunkenly missing a half-court shot and hitting a cheerleader instead.
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Ferrell plays a divorced man who re-enters his ex-wife's life when she remarries
Will Ferrell made a surprise appearance at a Pelicans-Lakers game in New Orleans, taking over the court during halftime. However, instead of making a half-court shot, he threw a basketball that hit a cheerleader in the face. This stunt was part of the filming for his upcoming comedy movie, 'Daddy's Home', co-starring Mark Wahlberg. Ferrell's character in the movie is a divorced man who re-enters his ex-wife's life when she remarries. Linda Cardellini plays his ex-wife, while Wahlberg portrays the new man, reprising his role as the freeloading father of his ex-wife's children, who suddenly reappears in their lives.
In the film, Ferrell's character, named Brad, is a mild-mannered and sweet-natured radio executive. He treasures being a stepfather to his new wife's two children and is determined to be the best stepdad possible. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when the children's biological father, Dusty, played by Wahlberg, re-enters the picture. Dusty's reappearance threatens Ferrell's character's efforts to be a good father to his stepchildren, leading to comedic situations and hijinks.
The basketball scene in question was carefully coordinated with the arena, the NBA, and the Lakers and Pelicans teams, requiring months of planning. Ferrell's character, portraying a drunken idiot, misses a half-court shot very badly, accidentally hitting the cheerleader, played by professional wrestler Taryn Terrell, in the face with the basketball. The scene was designed to appear realistic, with Ferrell being escorted off the court by security guards, adding to the illusion.
Despite the entertainment value of the stunt, some viewers criticised the film for its use of perceived violence against women for comedic effect. Ferrell and the film's director, Sean Anders, addressed these concerns, clarifying that a soft, Nerf-style ball was used for the stunt double's take. They also expressed surprise at the speed with which footage of the scene spread online, going viral across various platforms.
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The cheerleader, Taryn Terrell, is a former WWE wrestler
Will Ferrell surprised fans with a hilarious stunt at a Pelicans-Lakers game in New Orleans, where he attempted a half-court shot but instead threw the basketball and accidentally hit a cheerleader, Taryn Terrell, in the face. Ferrell, who was acting drunk for the scene, was then dragged out of the stadium by security. The whole incident was staged for his upcoming comedy film, 'Daddy's Home', co-starring Mark Wahlberg and Linda Cardellini. In the movie, Ferrell's character, a mild-mannered radio executive, tries to be a good stepfather to his new wife's children, but his life is turned upside down when their freeloading father reappears.
Taryn Terrell, the cheerleader involved in the stunt, is a former WWE wrestler. She debuted in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE's developmental territory, alongside Beverly Mullins, competing in various matches, including lingerie matches. Terrell later renamed herself Tiffany and participated in several televised matches, including a fatal four-way match and a tournament to determine the inaugural Queen of FCW. She also teamed up with other wrestlers, such as Nikki Bella, Eve Torres, and Angela Fong, to take on rivals in tag team matches. Terrell made her main roster debut as Tiffany, the on-screen assistant general manager, on the June 10, 2008, episode of ECW.
Outside of the WWE, Terrell has found success in other wrestling promotions, such as Impact Wrestling, where she won the TNA Knockouts Championship on multiple occasions. She has defeated notable wrestlers like Havok, Gail Kim, and Angelina Love. Terrell has also appeared in films like "Kidnap," "Jurassic World," and "Oldboy," showcasing her versatility as a performer.
The basketball stunt with Ferrell was carefully coordinated with the arena, the NBA, and the Lakers and Pelicans organisations. Ferrell expressed surprise at the viral reaction to the stunt, stating that he didn't expect it to be such a big deal. Ferrell and the film's director, Sean Anders, were caught off guard by the speed at which footage of the scene spread across the internet, becoming a trending topic on platforms like YouTube, Yahoo, and Google.
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Ferrell was dragged from the stadium by security, which was also captured on social media
Will Ferrell's prank, which was a scene from his upcoming comedy film, 'Daddy's Home', caused quite a stir on social media. After hurling a basketball at a cheerleader's face, Ferrell was swiftly escorted from the stadium by security guards. The incident, which took place during halftime at a Pelicans-Lakers game in New Orleans, was captured on video and shared by fans online. The footage sparked varied reactions, with some finding it entertaining and others criticizing the portrayal of violence against women.
Ferrell's unexpected appearance and outrageous behavior caused a buzz in the stadium. In the film scene, he portrays a drunken stepfather attempting a half-court shot but instead hitting a cheerleader. As the prank played out, Ferrell was surrounded by security personnel who intervened to prevent any further disruption. The security team formed a perimeter around Ferrell, ushering him away from the court and bringing his on-court shenanigans to an end.
The security guards, easily identifiable by their distinct yellow blazers, swiftly removed Ferrell from the premises. This moment, too, was captured and shared by fans on social media platforms. Ferrell's hasty exit from the stadium was a crucial part of the film scene, adding to the chaos and surprise of the moment. The security personnel played their role in ensuring the smooth continuation of the game and the film shoot.
The viral video of Ferrell's prank and the subsequent security intervention sparked a range of reactions online. While some viewers found the stunt amusing, others were critical of the perceived violence against the cheerleader, played by stuntwoman and former wrestler Taryn Terrell. Ferrell's performance as a drunken fool and the realistic-looking bump taken by Terrell left some viewers questioning whether the incident was staged or genuine.
The unexpected nature of Ferrell's prank and the swift response from stadium security contributed to the viral nature of the incident. Fans and media outlets alike shared footage and reactions, with the story gaining traction beyond just sports and entertainment circles. Ferrell's prank, though intended for comedic effect, sparked important discussions about the portrayal of women in media and the potential impact of such stunts.
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Ferrell said he was surprised that footage of the scene went viral
Will Ferrell expressed surprise at the viral spread of footage from his upcoming comedy film, Daddy's Home. The scene in question, filmed during halftime at a Pelicans-Lakers game, involved Ferrell, in character, accidentally hitting a cheerleader in the face with a basketball. Ferrell's on-court antics were staged, with the crowd unaware that it was part of a movie shoot.
Ferrell told Yahoo Movies that he was caught off guard by the extent of the footage's virality, stating, "For some reason, I still have blinders on when we do things like that." Director Sean Anders echoed this sentiment, expecting the footage to circulate on YouTube but not anticipating its widespread presence across various online platforms.
The viral footage sparked mixed reactions from viewers. Some found it entertaining, while others criticized the scene's perceived violence against women. Ferrell faced backlash, with people suggesting he should be sued for his actions. However, Ferrell clarified that the cheerleader was a paid, professional stuntwoman and that a soft, Nerf-style ball was used instead of a real basketball.
The stunt was carefully coordinated with the arena, the NBA, the Lakers, and the Pelicans, and the production team only had six minutes to film the scene. Ferrell admitted that the adrenaline was pumping as he wanted to ensure he made a direct hit on the first throw to maintain the gag. Ferrell's co-star, Mark Wahlberg, commented on the crowd's initial shock, stating that many people thought the scene was real.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, but it was staged. Will Ferrell hit a cheerleader, played by wrestler Taryn Terrell, with a basketball as part of a scene for his upcoming movie, 'Daddy's Home'.
Will Ferrell's character in 'Daddy's Home' is called upon to attempt a half-court shot during a Pelicans game and misses very badly, hitting the cheerleader in the face with the basketball.
No, the basketball was replaced with a softer stunt prop before Will Ferrell hit the cheerleader, Taryn Terrell, in the face.
After hitting the cheerleader with the basketball, Will Ferrell was escorted off the court by security guards.
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