Some will say that Adam Sandler is most famous for his early works like Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison, others will remember his sharp decline into mediocrity in the ’00s. His project The Ridiculous Six, a clear spoof of 1960’s The Magnificent Seven, appears to lampoon the stereotypes of old Western films, to the point where extras are walking off set due to the film’s portrayals Native Americans.
According to Indian Country Today Media Network, 12 extras and the film’s “cultural advisor” walked off set this week after being subject to material like this:
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.
Some of the extras interviewed after leaving the production explained that the film had been misrepresented to them by The Ridiculous Six‘s producers– that the film was a comedy, but not a racist one. Extra Loren Anthony told ICTMN that “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.”
How weird, exactly? Extras were upset by inaccurate, broad costume depictions and crass jokes like the “Beaver’s Breath” gag. If they expressed displeasure with the point of view taken by the film’s script, they could see themselves out. Navajo film student Alison Young was also on set and told ICTMN:
“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.”
After the news broke, Netflix jumped to the defense of its project, and according to Vulture, a rep from the country said the following:
“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.”
Instagram hints that Rob Schneider has some involvement in this film, too.
“The Ridiculous Six” right now! pic.twitter.com/rhGuZvbboR
— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) April 15, 2015
[h/t Gawker]
