A dozen offended Native American actors, actresses and a Native cultural advisor stormed off the set of Adam Sandler's newest satirical western film The Ridiculous Six, after declaring the script both rude and distasteful.
The Native American actors, mostly a part of the Navajo Nation, felt subjected to distasteful jokes and insulting, anti-feminist character nicknames such as "Beaver's Breath" and "No Bra," notes Indian Country Today Media Network. The script continued to wrongly depict Apache culture when one scene incorporated a woman smoking a peace pipe and incorrectly situated feathers on teepees--seen as both erroneous and improper.
Are we to let the hollywood keep using people of color as props or do we say something? #ahem #cough #Blended #cough #RidiculousSix
— Zeroland Productions (@ZeroBintz) April 23, 2015
The film is currently in production with Sandler's own company, Happy Madison, and will be first of four films to be released with Netflix, the streaming service that stood up for the filming disputes. "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," stated a Netflix spokesperson, notes Rolling Stone. "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," Navajo film student Allison Young told ICTMN. While some fans support the decision to walk off set, others strictly see the film as a satire.
@AP This is so silly, this is what comedies are about! besides, the title of the movie says it all "The Ridiculous Six" @AdamSandler rocks — MagicGel.us (@nurugel) April 23, 2015
The alleged spoof of The Magnificent Seven is directed by Frank Coraci and co-written by Sandler and Tim Herlihy. Sandler will star in the already controversial film alongside Terry Crews, Will Forte, Luke Wilson, Whitney Cummings, Vanilla Ice and notable Adam Sandler movie staple, Steve Buscemi.
The Ridiculous Six will be released on Netflix although an official release date is still to be determined.
