Eight Native American actors quit set of 'offensive' Adam Sandler Western satire
Eight actors leave the set of an Adam Sandler spoof of Western movies after complaints about stereotypes, spurring debate in the industry
When a group of Native American actors and actresses walked off the set of Adam Sandler's film this week, the decision generated praise and scorn on social media.
Yet everyone agreed on one thing: despite growing awareness, outdated Native American stereotypes in Hollywood remain. And more Native Americans are voicing their opinions.
The eight performers quit the production of The Ridiculous Six - a spoof of Western films including The Magnificent Seven - over complaints about offensive names, such as "Bad Breath" and "Wears No Bra", and religious scenes. They said they could not be in a film that depicted a Native American woman urinating while smoking a peace pipe.
California writer Megan Red Shirt-Shaw, founder of Natives in America, an online publication for Native American youth, said the walkout sparked praise among American Indian advocates because people were tired of the images and now had ways to express their outrage.
"In the past, Native actors did speak out, but they didn't have the technology to share their views widely," Red Shirt-Shaw said. "It's different now." On social media, activists used the hashtag #NotYourHollywoodIndian to denounce Sandler's film and to thank the actors for their "bravery".
Yet other Native Americans said more actors and writers were needed in media to tackle hurtful stereotypes; they argued that the actors should have stayed on set.