Netflix Defends Adam Sandler's 'Ridiculous' Script After Native American Actors Walk Out
Adam Sandler is making a comedy for Netflix called "The Ridiculous Six" and the streaming service is standing by their man in the wake of new controversy. According to Indian Country Today Media Network (ICTMN), about a dozen Native-American actors and actresses, plus the Native cultural adviser, left the set of "The Ridiculous Six" on Wednesday when they saw how the script appeared to insult Native women and elders. To quote the story:
The examples of disrespect included Native women's names such as Beaver's Breath and No Bra, an actress portraying an Apache woman squatting and urinating while smoking a peace pipe, and feathers inappropriately positioned on a teepee."
One of the men who walked off the set said he had initially refused to do the movie, but agreed to take the job when producers told him they had hired a cultural consultant and would make efforts to portray Natives in a tasteful way. Several actors shared stories of feeling disrespected on set, with their concerns brushed aside. Allison Young, Navajo, told ICTMN, "Nothing has changed. We are still just Hollywood Indians."
You can read more of their specific concerns, but a Netflix rep also spoke out on Thursday, defending the script (via Deadline):
The movie has 'ridiculous' in the title for a reason –because it is ridiculous. It is a broad satire of Western movies and the stereotypes they popularized, featuring a diverse cast that is not only part of - but in on - the joke."
Deadline said there was no interruption in filming for "Ridiculous," which co-stars Nick Nolte, Terry Crews, Steve Buscemi, Will Forte, Taylor Lautner, Luke Wilson and Whitney Cummings.
So far, readers seem to be on both sides of this, with some thinking the Native actors should've known better or were too sensitive, and others bashing the continued tasteless stereotypes or just wondering what's news about an Adam Sandler movie being offensive since ... it's Adam Sandler.