Not a good look: A four film deal has gotten off to a bad start as 12 Native American Actors Walk Off Set for Netflix and Adam Sandler Movie Racism (yikes). While the racism is “alleged” and being painted as accusations, the details and experiences of the actors seem pretty deep…but is Netflix pulling the plug, changing its ways or will the show go on as is???
Actors Walk Off Set for Netflix and Adam Sandler Movie Racism during production of The Ridiculous Six, which is the first film in an exclusive deal between comedy legend Adam Sandler and digital content powerhouse Netflix. It was planned as a spoof-parody to the film “The Magnificient Seven” which starred Sandler, Nick Nolte, Steve Buscemi, Dan Aykroyd, Jon Lovitz and Vanilla Ice. Unfortunately somewhere in all the fun and light-heartedness someone slipped and fell on a little racism?…
“The film includes Native American characters named Beaver’s Breath and No Bra; an Apache woman squatting and urinating while smoking a peace pipe; and inaccurate, stereotypical set and costume designs. When the actors voiced their concerns with the director and producers they were brushed off. A cultural consultant was hired, but it hasn’t seemed to make a difference.”
…mhmm, (letting this marinate or have you heard enough?). Complex, Indian Country Today and TMZ report the Actors Walk Off Set for Netflix and Adam Sandler Movie Racism over major disrespect to women and elders of the indigenous community, not to mention a “gross misrepresentation” of Apache culture. The official Netflix statement cites the movie is called “Ridiculous” for a reason, that it’s “intended to be a satire of Westerns and the stereotypes popularized in the genre” and that the diverse cast “is not only part of–but in on–the joke.” Basically—“y’all trippin!” and Netflix is so far not pulling the plug on production. Actor Loren Anthony said the director told him “disrespect was not intentional, this is a comedy.” Actor Allison Young feels like it’s deeper:
“When I began doing this film, I had an uneasy feeling inside of me and I felt so conflicted. I talked to a former instructor at Dartmouth and he told me to take this as finally experiencing stereotyping first hand. We talked to the producers about our concerns. They just told us, ‘If you guys are so sensitive, you should leave.’ I was just standing there and got emotional and teary-eyed. I didn’t want to cry but the feeling just came over me. This is supposed to be a comedy that makes you laugh. A film like this should not make someone feel this way.”
Actors Walk Off Set for Netflix and Adam Sandler Movie Racism and would you have walked off too or would you have seen this coming from jump? Is it racism, are people just being “ridiculous,” or the ‘joke’ itself ridiculous? The NFL caught heat from the Washington’s “Redskins” name/mascot (before suing the protesters SMH) late last year. Fashion powerhouse Ralph Lauren was under fire for their Christmas ads of Native Americans randomly and offensively rocking their gear. With that level of wrong for a Photoshop, doesn’t look like an entire movie’s going to get away with it…but then again it does.
For those defending the film—it wouldn’t be as bad if there wasn’t an actual genocide of an entire people behind this, where humiliation and misrepresentation came with the territory. Looks like T.I.’s right about stereotypes, and racism will probably exist even after the Crazy Horse memorial is finished (SMH).
Check the vid and the gallery up top!
