Native American actors walk off the set of Adam Sandler’s racist new movie

This picture hails from Loren Anthony’s Instagram page. Loren is a Native American actor who’s building up some credits, which includes appearing as an extra in Adam Sandler’s latest project. Adam’s currently filming a Netflix-acquired parody of The Magnificent Seven called The Ridiculous 6. I don’t know why anyone assumed this film would be a tasteful affair. Adam co-wrote the movie, along with Tim Herlihy, the mastermind pen-wielder behind such classics as Big Daddy, Grown Ups 2, and Happy Gilmore.

Loren didn’t have a good experience on the set of this film, which stars Sandler, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo, and Vanilla Ice (as Mark Twain). It’s worth nothing that Warner Bros dumped the film, and Sony and Paramount wanted no part of it before Netflix fell into the pile. The film features Native American characters with names like “Smoking Fox,” “No Bra,” and “Screaming Eagle.” Now several Native actors have left the production because the movie is so freaking racist:

Approximately a dozen Native actors and actresses, as well as the Native cultural advisor, left the set of Adam Sandler’s newest film production, The Ridiculous Six, on Wednesday. The actors, who were primarily from the Navajo nation, left the set after the satirical western’s script repeatedly insulted native women and elders and grossly misrepresented Apache culture.

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.

Among the actors who walked off the set were Navajo Nation tribal members Loren Anthony, who is also the lead singer of the metal band Bloodline, and film student Allison Young. Anthony says that though he understands the movie is a comedy, the portrayal of the Apache was severely negligent and the insults to women were more than enough reason to walk off the set.

“There were about a dozen of us who walked off the set,” said Anthony, who told ICTMN he had initially refused to do the movie. He then agreed to take the job when producers informed him they had hired a cultural consultant and efforts would be made for tasteful representation of Natives.

“I was asked a long time ago to do some work on this and I wasn’t down for it. Then they told me it was going to be a comedy, but it would not be racist. So I agreed to it but on Monday things started getting weird on the set,” he said.

Anthony says he was first insulted that the movie costumes that were supposed to portray Apache were significantly incorrect and that the jokes seemed to get progressively worse.

“We were supposed to be Apache, but it was really stereotypical and we did not look Apache at all. We looked more like Comanche,” he said. “One thing that really offended a lot of people was that there was a female character called Beaver’s breath. One character says ‘Hey, Beaver’s Breath.’ And the Native woman says, ‘How did you know my name?'”

“They just treated us as if we should just be on the side. When we did speak with the main director, he was trying to say the disrespect was not intentional and this was a comedy.”.

[From Indian Country]

This publication also spoke to Allison Young, Navajo, who was disturbed by the rampant stereotyping once production began. Producers told her, “‘If you guys are so sensitive, you should leave.’” She added “Nothing has changed. We are still just Hollywood Indians.” Another member named David Hill, Choctaw, said Sandler and his crew were “disrespectful” and “bringing up those same old arguments that Dan Snyder uses in defending the Redskins.” Hill laments that several of the extras will stay on the movie because they need the work.

This film sounds like yet another example of “casual racism that arrives with a Sandler film like Blended or countless other examples. Does anyone remember Don’t Mess with the Zohan? Ugh. Sandler likes to see himself as an equal-opportunity offender, but he’s just an insensitive d-bag who tries to elicit laughs with dumb voices and wee-wee jokes. The good news is that audiences are tired of his shtick, which is why this movie landed at Netlix. The bad news is that these Native American actors were treated so disrespectfully.

TMZ spoke to Netflix, who says the movie is supposed to be ridiculous. Their rep insists that the cast, including the extras, are “not only part of — but in on — the joke.” Sounds like this isn’t a very funny joke at all.

Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler

Photos courtesy of WENN

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101 Responses to “Native American actors walk off the set of Adam Sandler’s racist new movie”

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  1. Sara says:

    Crazy how Native Americans still get called “oversensitive” when their culture is either erased or degraded.

    • taterho says:

      +100

    • Amelia says:

      It’s quite frankly disturbing how Native American culture has been pushed-back, maligned and used as the butt of cheap jokes by morons such as Sandler. Speaking of which, who keeps giving that talentless douchecanoe work?
      *breathes out*
      I need a drink.

      That reminds me, I read this great comic strip by The Oatmeal the other day about how Christopher Columbus was an pyschopathic, greedy, asshole who was largely responsible for the emergence of the slave trade and the revolting treatment of Native Americans and their history.
      I’ll link it if I can find it.
      Edit: Found it — http://theoatmeal.com/comics/columbus_day

      • doofus says:

        I LOVE THE OATMEAL.

        isn’t that comic GREAT?

      • Amelia says:

        I’ve only just discovered The Oatmeal after reading a strip about distance running (since the London Marathon is coming up this Sunday) and ended up browsing through it for the entire evening!
        “Why you shouldn’t let your Tyrannosaurus Rex have crack cocaine”.
        Brilliant.

      • Crumpet says:

        That is brilliant! Time to do away with Columbus Day for sure.

      • Kittenplant says:

        The Oatmeal is the best! I love the cat stuff.

      • doofus says:

        Amelia, it’s the BLERCH! 🙂

        and yes, Kitten, the cat ones are wonderful.

        “How to Tell if your Cat is Plotting to Kill You” and “My Dog, The Paradox” are two of my favorites.

      • MtnRunner says:

        The Oatmeal is The Awesome. And he’s a long-distance runner. His cartoons on the Red Velvet Mite, Mantis Shrimp and Male Angler Fish are hilarious.

    • PinaColada says:

      Agree. This is terrible. Who finds this funny?? I’m from a country that America doesnt “like,” and I get tired of the way we are represented in movies as well.

      • WTF says:

        PinaColada unfortunately, that doesn’t narrow it down much. What country are you from?
        I am still really shocked by how blatantly racist movies are.

    • Jay says:

      THIS. I feel like Natives get shafted worse than anyone. I remember learning about Native culture and the gruesome genocide they suffered in college (they conveniently breeze over that in high school!) and being so shocked at the details. Can’t stand the people who say the casino money makes everyone even.

      • It is what it is says:

        @Jay agreed. We can’t leave a people alone who participated in treaties with Americans, playing by their own rules in the name of peace, who saved settlers from starvation, who didn’t feel the need to move rivers or lot nations or mountains to be considered human?

        Adam Sandler should be chased out of Hollywood. Useless, talentless, offensive SOB

      • Size Does Matter says:

        It is absolutely disgusting. And pervasive. Did you know it was Andrew Jackson – the face on the $20 bill – who signed the removal order in defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court?

      • NorthernGirl_20 says:

        Yes!! It’s so horrible what was done to people and is still being done to people .. I live in Northern Ontario Canada and it is time for the annual evacuation of a reserve north of us because it was built on a flood plane. Every year its the same thing… These poor people were forced off their lands and put somewhere that floods every single year! And the government does NOTHING to help them.. and don’t get me started on the Residential Schools.. I was just listening last week to an interview about a man who wrote a book called “The Education of Augie” .. I don’t think I could read the book so sad and horrible what was done to them 🙁

      • Sara says:

        To everyone on this thread I highly recommend David Treuer’s “Rez Life”, non-fiction book about his reservation, and his Ojibwe background. Best way to combat racism against Native Americans is to learn more about them so they’re neither fetishized nor caricatured…

      • Jay says:

        @Sara, I will definitely check it out, and I totally agree. I wish people knew more about Native Americans and the history there, as well as the current struggles they face. It makes me so upset that Columbus has his own day we celebrate.. such a slap in the face.

      • littlestar says:

        Northern Girl, I was watching the National last night and saw that about the community being moved! The news said they have moved them the past four years and it costs $20 million each time – mind boggling. Why don’t they use that money to properly relocate the community or build preventative measures that stops the community from flooding? It’s very sad how First Nations people are treated in Canada :(.

        Edit: Sara, I will admit that my eyes didn’t really open up to the terrible cycle First Nations people are in until I took several Native American literature classes in university. I discovered so many incredible writers who are now my favourites: Sherman Alexie, Joseph Boyden, Eden Robinson, just a few that I greatly admire (and wish I could be half the writer they are).

    • LexieW says:

      +1

    • katy says:

      +10000000000000000000000000000000000

      When you have an entire culture telling you something is offensive (like, I don’t know, wearing eagle feather headdresses so you look “cool” on Instagram), people would normally stop doing that thing. I really don’t understand why people are hell bent on offending and marginalizing Native Americans, and treating them as a novelty rather than a culture full of human beings.

  2. MelissaManifesto says:

    So glad to see a group of people standing up for their culture and to Hollywood’s “casual” racism.

  3. Tiffany27 says:

    What…….. theee………. fu*k?!?!?!??!!?

    • BengalCat2000 says:

      My thoughts exactly. Apparently, insulting Native Amercans, women and people with weight problems is still OK . Wtf is wrong with these people?! Adam Sandler has never been funny. I’m stunned his career has lasted this long.

    • bettyrose says:

      X10000. How did this even happen? How did production get this far?

    • Pinky says:

      Right? No, NETFLIX. They’re not “in on the joke.” You don’t understand comedy, if you think that’s the case. These people are not poking fun at themselves. They are still being viewed and laughed AT from the perspective of the oppressive culture. It’s not giving the “Indians” the upper hand–they are not making fun of the oppressor with these jokes or names like “Beaver’s Breath,” they ARE the joke. And that’s why it isn’t funny. They are still the sideshow freaks. How do you make The Ridiculous Six funny? By employing real American Indians who school the “White Man” on his ineptitude and racism–either by deliberately employing stereotypes in order to get one over on the Man, or by not buying into the stereotypes and instead using the White Man’s racism and blindness against him to “win” the game. THAT’S how comedy that employs stereotypes can still be funny.

      So stupid. So blind. THIS is what’s wrong with whitey.

      • LexieW says:

        Very well said, Pinky.

      • Denise says:

        Pinky, it’s amazing that you get it, yet these wildly successful comedy writers do not. It’s like none of them have grown up, but that’s an insult to youth which is not intrinsically ignorant. This idiotic film cannot be released in 2015.

  4. CTgirl says:

    Adam Sandler is an equal opportunity offender. I can’t imagine what the Native American actors thought they were getting into when they accepted the jobs but I’m also not surprised that they decided to leave the production.

    • Norman Bates' Mother says:

      I’ve read a comment from one of the actors, who said that as background characters, they didn’t receive a script and the only thing they knew and were promised while signing, was that it would be a respectful parody with no racism. Which turned out to be BS. The casting people or the producers probably thought they could get away with it, as Native American actors sadly don’t have many good working opportunities, but I’m glad they walked off. There are so many wonderful Native American actors – I don’t understand why still, in the 2015, Hollywood thinks people don’t want to see them in normal, not offensive, not exaggerated roles.

      • CTgirl says:

        I totally agree with the actors walking off set. I would have in their position. Trust me, I’m not defending Adam Sandler. At. All.

    • Pinky says:

      If Adam Sandler really were an equal opportunity offender, and he really understood comedy, and he really were making fun of stereotypes in Westerns, then he should have employed Sicilian or Jewish or Italian people in ridiculous paint to portray the Native Americans, since that’s what they did back then. And he should have made it obvious that these were not real American Indians in these rolls. And THAT should have been the joke–making fun of your OWN ignorance is where good comedy comes from, not poking fun at others whom you (as in your culture) have oppressed, depressed, marginalized, and virtually eradicated from the planet. “Ha ha–Native people have stupid names. Ha ha–what a riot.” Nope.

      • Crumpet says:

        Someone should have hired you as the director! That would have been hilarious!

        Adam Sandler’s problem is, he never grew up. His childish schtick was funny in it’s day, because it was endearing in a way.

        Time to grow up Adam. It’s just not funny anymore (shades of Stripes!).

      • eggplanthoKiddo says:

        I think that was kind of the point in Mel Brooks’ movies; how stupid the stereotypes are. With Sandler, it’s how stupid the movie is.

      • Natalie says:

        Right, Mel Brooks is poking fun at people who believe the stereotypes -he punches up. Adam Sandler is punching down.

  5. Nicole says:

    Go home, Sandler. You were sweet for a while and there were some great moments and some funny movies, but you’re done now. Maybe go back to school or something.

  6. msw says:

    Oh, OK, its just a joke. Jokes can never be in bad taste, or out of step with cultural sensitivity.

    Even farcical comedy doesn’t need to resort to being offensive just for the sake of it.

  7. Prairiegirl says:

    How does he still have a career? Has he made an entertaining movie since Happy Gilmore? Because I can’t think of one.

    • doofus says:

      I kinda liked The Wedding Singer…specifically because it wasn’t the typical juvenile comedy that he puts out.

      • jugstorecowboy says:

        I loved that movie, and was looking forward to showing it to my kids. But now I’m worried I will cringe. The transgender character probably doesn’t hold up today. Shamefully, I also loved Little Nicky, which was just plain stupid.

      • Kittenplant says:

        Spanglish and Punch-drunk Love.
        I don’t get why he insists on doing these god-awful incredibly un-funny, downright offensive, sh*tty-ass comedies.

        Also, The Wedding Singer soundtrack is amazing.

    • Adrien says:

      Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates and Big Daddy. I also like Zohan. It’s racist as feck but it’s funny overall.

  8. blue marie says:

    Do people still see his movies? Why he’s allowed to keep making them is beyond me.

  9. Izzy says:

    Good for them for leaving. Also, isn’t it long past time for Sandler and his career to grow the he l l up?

    • Lucy2 says:

      Definitely time. He’s done a few more grown up films and gotten good reviews for them, but always seems to revert into this childish nonsense.

  10. Maya says:

    Well done to Native Americans – please continue to stand up for your rights.

  11. ToodySezHey says:

    He must know where bodies are buried, it’s the only explanation of how his movies get greenlit. All he does is contribute to the dumbification of America.

    Jerk.

  12. serena says:

    And that’s why Sandler’s career has gone a downhill.. because he keeps making the same old, sexist and racists, jokes.

  13. Christin says:

    Aren’t his movies among the biggest duds? I remember seeing some type of list that featured his photo (as in, which stars have consistently not lived up to their box office hype).

    • Jay says:

      Yep. No idea how his movies even get funding these days.

    • Josefa says:

      Forbes named him the most overpaid actor in Hollywood or something. I don’t get why people keep hiring him. Even the unfunny douchebags I know in real life find him an unfunny douchebag.

  14. taterho says:

    I won’t say I’m disappointed in Sandler because he would have to actually be of interest to me to then disappoint me.
    But Netflix. Come. The. F**k. ON.

    • Josefa says:

      This, this so much. I thought of Netflix as a very smart company that produced series of fantastic quality. I’m so dissapointed in them. It’s not even good business – everyone is over this douche.

  15. Meany says:

    Laughing and joking at others expense is not funny at all. Sandlers movies r so stupid. He’s doesn’t know when to quit these dum ass movies like Madonna doesn’t seem to realize she’s not 20 anymore ..Just feeding the ego machine

  16. Kara says:

    “he was trying to say the disrespect was not intentional ”
    you could try that apology if you are not american and dont know about the history and made a remark that was offensive. but if you sit down and write a script with all the stereotypes and offensive comedy in it its pretty intentional.

  17. Lucy2 says:

    I’m amazed that anyone thought this movie was a good idea. I applaud the actors who made the tough decision to leave, and feel sorry for those who are stuck there because they really need the work.
    Netflix should know better (Sandler and his production team don’t seem to have any sense). I get that they’re protecting their investment, but that statement reflects poorly on them. They need to drop this project, even if it means taking a loss.

  18. Linn says:

    Is this the week of douchebags or something? I feel like we need more posts about kittens to balance all the facepalm-worthy bullshit those guys are uttering.

    • Lucy2 says:

      IKR? I’ve had a crappy week in general with one thing after another going wrong, and all these negative stories just keep bringing me down! I think I need to watch some panda cub videos or something.

    • jwoolman says:

      Get the Weather Kitty app (free for the basic version, which gives you 10 locations). When I need an adorable kitten/cat pic to soothe the soul, I just check the weather in 10 time zones….. There is a Weather Puppy as well.

  19. grits says:

    Why is he still making movies? He’s not funny, and there is zero audience for this. Just go retire already.
    Also, it’s quite shameful that in 2015, someone seems to think its funny to make fun of Native American culture.

  20. Jaded says:

    Is it a weird planetary alignment or raging sun spots or something that’s causing all these tools to behave like moronic 12 year olds? *Shakes head and pours Baileys into coffee*

  21. Saskia says:

    The gall of people who use the excuse that “any disrespect was unintentional” just never ceases to amaze me. Especially because the thing about humor is that if you can’t be “funny” without being offensive, then you’re not actually funny at all. And sure, there are plenty of gross people who will laugh at racist “comedies” but that’s only because the world is still sadly full of gross people who find racism to be hilarious.

    Honestly, everyone who has ever run around claiming to be an “equal opportunity offender” always turns out to be another lazy, uninspired, crass and unfunny boor whose career lasts only long enough for their dudebro fanboys to grow the hell up and realize they were never really funny in the first place.

  22. OhDear says:

    I’m glad that they walked out and that this story is getting wide coverage.

  23. Adrien says:

    You mean they hired actual Native Americans and not just dress Rob Schneider up in some Apache get up and painted his skin red? That’s some progress for Sandler. And Vanilla ICE plays Mark Twain? What? Jackiechanconfused

  24. Angie says:

    I applaud anyone for standing up against Adam Sandler’s terrible comedies PERIOD.

  25. Jayna says:

    I used to love quite a few Adam Sandler films, like the 50 Dates movie with Drew Barrymore. It is so sweet and had heart. I love that movie. And I loved his movie, Spanglish, etc.

    But he has been putting out crap consistently for years now, with no flashes of good movies in between the junk, like he used to be able to do.

  26. BlackBetty says:

    I don’t understand how this talentless hack keeps getting movies made. He shouldve been disappeared after Jack and Jill.

  27. Mar says:

    Well I hate Thanksgiving- and it’s not because I don’t eat meat.

  28. Jennivo says:

    I wanted to read the article but was afraid to read the comments. I actually get nauseous when I see the racist comments. So thank you, from a proud Native.

    • AcidRock says:

      Please believe we are as offended as you. This is absolutely ridiculous and offensive on every level.

    • SapphireJD says:

      Vouch^^^
      Some of US in the US respect Native American culture and know the history. So sorry that an asshat like Sandler doesn’t.

  29. jc126 says:

    All actors should quit every movie Adam Sandler makes. He is, and always has been, just awful.

  30. Beep says:

    Good for them for walking out. Sucks for the actors who need the cash.

    The only Adam sandler movie I enjoyed was the wedding singer. You have to be extremely high to laugh at any of his other movies. He sucks.

  31. QQ says:

    So By My Count, This Asshole ( I HATE Adam Sandler BAD) has to Make a Ching chongy movie cause he’s already offended Africans, Hawaiians, Women ( every movie basically), gay men… Also maybe he needs to Listen to the Yo, Is this racist podcast emphasis on the “equal opportunity offender” ep… which is the code for white cis men to proceed to be assh*les with impunity, microaggresions, and AWL THA RAPE JOKEZ and then turn around and whine about freedom of expression and so on

  32. aang says:

    This looks very bad. In any other hands I might think that we are missing the social satire that is in reality poking fun at historical racism in movies through hyperbolic portrayals of minorities. In my opinion that is a valid form of expression. But I don’t give Adam Sandler the benefit of the doubt.

    • Question everything says:

      @ aang

      Yep. The Native American Actors left the movie and therefore won’t get the money (or at least no all of it). That is telling ’cause if it is so bad you can’t even suck it up for the sake of the money then it is bad.

  33. melissa says:

    I loved Adam and his songs on SNL, and loved the movie the wedding singer and just go with it

  34. SnarkGirl says:

    I love satire and I’m all for equal-opportunity offence humor like South Park, but this sounds like it missed the “we’re all laughing at ourselves” mark by a light-year. Rehashing old stereotypes of any group isn’t humor, it’s more like the bully kid who ‘teases’ another to the point of tears and then asks “What’s the matter? Can’t take a joke?”

    Time for Adam Sandler to go far, far away. And stay there.

    • Question everything says:

      @ SnarkGirl

      I think you might have a point. Or maybe not. It is difficult to judge it as long as one hasn’t seen it. Nevertheless the reaction of the Native American Actors is telling. They wouldn’t have left and declined the money if some “just suck it up its a job” would have done the trick. So I tend to judge in their favour.

      Just because a joke is old that doesn’t mean it should no longer be played. Jokes about the sex life of celibate catholic priests are hundreds of years old. So are jokes depicting doctors as presumptuous demi-gods in white.

      What about the jokes about non native people in the movie? Do they get ridiculed, too?

  35. Josefa says:

    Why, Netflix. Why did you think this was actually a good idea. A blatantly racist movie made by one of the unfunniest, least profitable douchebags around? Putting the offense aside it’s simply bad business.

  36. oneshot says:

    I can’t believe Netflix thought this was ok to film, and the “satire” excuse is not nearly as clever and all-excusing as they think it is. This is disgusting, I’m glad the Native American actors took a stand.

  37. Another Critic says:

    Adam Sandler PR people and producers…. I hope you are reading….take note. Audiences really do not like Sandlers’s stale tired teenage movies. It’s time to quit.

  38. Grace says:

    It amazes me that Adam Sandler can still get funding for his stupid movies. He hasn’t been funny in years, and his “jokes” are just lame and lazy.

  39. Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

    Once again proving that there are far too many people who can’t even pretend that they think minorities exist for any reason other than to be entertaining props. I’ve never liked his ‘funny toddler voices/screaming arrested development’ routine: it’s dumb.

  40. Blue says:

    Don’t let anyone disrespect you even an overpaid Hollywood douchebag Jew like Sandler, walking off the movie set was the best thing they did and it has bought attention to the movie industries racism and treatment of minorities. Inviting native Americans to be part of your movie and then making fun of their race is not funny, it’s degrading and hurtful.

  41. Mispronounced Name Dropper says:

    So if someone’s a racist, sexist, homophobe that’s OK because they’re an “equal opportunity offender” Give me a break.

  42. Decorative Item says:

    If you can take your jokes to the people you are making fun of and they laugh, then you’re funny.

  43. nospinzone says:

    Is Jennifer Aniston in this movie? She enjoys being in an Adam Sandler film.

  44. Rosalee says:

    Thank you for your comments, if only you all had the ear of Hollywood. #Notyourhollywoodindian
    #Notyourtigerlilly
    #Notyourmascot
    #Idlenomore