On social media, many viewers were stunned after a viral video showed Adrien Brody’s ‘gross’ moment caught on camera before accepting an Oscar.
After the incident, Adrien Brody defended the moment amid criticism.
Adrien Brody’s Oscars win sparks unexpected controversy
Adrien Brody joined an elite group of actors who have won the only Oscar they’ve been nominated for.
However, his moment of triumph at the 97th Academy Awards was overshadowed by online criticism.
Rather than celebrating his win, discussions online have focused on two viral moments before he accepted his statuette.
The kiss with Halle Berry and the ‘gross’ chewing gum moment
The first incident was beyond Brody’s control. Halle Berry kissed him in front of his partner, Georgina Chapman.
The second moment caused a stir online. Cameras caught him tossing his chewing gum to Chapman before walking onstage.
What really happened before Brody’s acceptance speech?
Brody won Best Actor for his role as László Tóth in The Brutalist.
His former Peaky Blinders co-star Cillian Murphy announced his victory.
Before heading to the stage, Brody kissed his girlfriend, as well as co-stars Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce.
Then, as he walked up, he suddenly realized he was chewing gum. He turned and tossed it to Chapman.
Chapman later admitted she didn’t manage to catch it, despite running over to try.
Social media reactions to Brody’s chewing gum toss
On social media, a video captured a ‘gross’ moment of Adrien Brody caught on camera before accepting his Oscar, leaving viewers stunned and sparking debate.
While, Twitter users quickly reacted. Many found the moment ‘gross’ and criticized Brody’s lack of etiquette.
One person said: Adrien Brody’s gross act with the chewing gum proves all that money can’t buy class and style
A second wrote: It was gum not a rub of snuff. Would you have preferred he have gum in his mouth during his acceptance speech???
While a third commented: Adrien Brody throwing his gum at his partner before going on stage is both iconic & disgusting.
Someone else said: Omg shock , horror, an actor doing a truly human, average normal person thing. Grow up people so much worse is happening in the world.
Another added: Omg! I can’t believe people think Adrien Brody chucking his gum at his gf is gross! I’d have tried to catch it with my mouth
However, not everyone was disgusted. Some defended Brody’s actions and even found them amusing.
Brody defends himself in a live interview
Brody addressed the moment on Live With Kelly and Mark. He explained why he made the split-second decision.
“I could’ve swallowed it, but I didn’t think about that. I had to get rid of it somehow,” he said.
While some viewers still found it unappealing, others dismissed the backlash as an overreaction.
Despite the controversy, Brody secured the prestigious award over nominees like Ralph Fiennes and Timothée Chalamet.
His performance in The Brutalist earned widespread acclaim, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors.
While social media remains divided over his chewing gum toss, Brody appears unfazed, focusing instead on his historic win.