Last week, Adam Sandler's original Netflix movie “The Ridiculous Six” made news when around a dozen Native American actors and the film's Native cultural advisor walked off the set in protest over jokes they deemed offensive, in addition to what they called gross misrepresentations of Apache culture. Now, video taken by Goldie Tom, one of the actors who took umbrage with the project, has been released that shows the group arguing with producers over the script.
“You're trying to tell us what's disrespectful to us?” one of the actors rails. In another choice soundbite, an off-camera crew member tells the group: “I understand completely. But we're not going to change Beaver Breath.”
“Beaver Breath” (or “Beaver's Breath”), for the record, is the name of a woman Native American character in the film, one of several offenses highlighted by the group. Other complaints lobbed by the actors included inconsistencies regarding Apache culture — “We looked more like Comanche,” Native American actor Loren Anthony told Indian Country Today Media Network — and a scene that depicts an Apache woman squatting and urinating while smoking a peace pipe.
Directed by Frank Coraci, “The Ridiculous Six” — ostensibly a spoof of the 1957 Western “The Magnificent Seven” — features an all-star cast including Sandler, Will Forte, Taylor Lautner, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo, Terry Crews, Luke Wilson, Nick Nolte and Rob Schneider. Sandler co-wrote and produced the film through his Happy Madison banner. It's slated to premiere exclusively on Netflix next year.
Watch video of the confrontation below.
[Indian Country Today via Mediaite]