Netflix Defends Adam Sandler Movie After Native-American Actors Quit Over Perceived Stereotypes
They said the movie was offensive to their culture.
— -- More than a handful of Native-American actors recently quit the Adam Sandler movie "The Ridiculous Six" because of perceived stereotyping offensive to their culture.
The movie, which began filming earlier this month in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a western that is satirical in nature, but actor Loren Anthony told The Associated Press producers ignored him and other actors after they voiced concerns about the plot and characters. Indeed, he said, the dissatisfied actors followed through on their threats to quit.
The movie is offensive not only to Apache culture, but to Native-American women, Loren said.
"The Ridiculous Six" is one of the movies Sandler signed on to do with Netflix in October.
At the time of the four-movie deal, Netflix was excited to welcome Sandler into the streaming family.
“People love Adam’s films on Netflix and often watch them again and again,” Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said in a news release announcing the deal. “His appeal spans across viewers of all ages -- everybody has a favorite movie, everyone has a favorite line -- not just in the U.S. but all over the world.”
In a statement today to ABC News, a Netflix spokeswoman said, "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."
Sandler's rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment.