Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, and just when I thought Adam Sandler’s films looked a bit interesting, something like this happens. He’s insulted people in the past, but it has never been to this degree, and it has never angered a group of people this much. As part of his four film deal with Netflix, his parody of The Magnificent Seven, Ridiculous Six just caused the dozen or so Navajo actors involved with the project to walk off thanks to its misrepresentation of the Apache culture.
Speaking with Indian Country Today (which you should read to get a fuller picture), Navajo student Allison Young spoke about her experiences on set:
When I began doing this film, I had an uneasy feeling inside of me and I felt so conflicted. I talked to a former instructor at Dartmouth and he told me to take this as finally experiencing stereotyping first hand. We talked to the producers about our concerns. 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.
Ugh. And what does Netflix has to say about this? They stand behind Sandler 100%:
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.
Not only is this a terrible example of an egregiously accepted racism, why invite members of the Nation if they’re just going to get it rubbed in their face? You’re better than this, Netflix. Don’t attach yourself to this garbage. Furthermore, don’t even watch this crap.
[via The Mary Sue and Indian Country]
