After a dozen Native Americans hired to play extras on Adam Sandlers Netflix-produced western Ridiculous 6ditched the set, one Navajo actressnamed AllieYoung sat down with MSNBC to discuss the many reasons why they decided to leave the production. In addition to the script that they found offensive and disrespectful, the extras felt that the comedy a play on The Magnificent Seven furthered century-old stereotypes about Native Americans, Mediate reports.
Im full-blooded Navajo and they bronzed me. I was quite confused, Young said of the makeup department darkening her skin to make her look more stereotypically like a Native American. Young also revealed that the films cultural consultant was the first person to leave the set. That says something when the cultural advisor for the film quits because hes offended, she said.
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Much has been made of the script giving characters names like Beaver Breath and No Bra, but that was just the tip of how offensivelythe production viewed Native American women. There was one instance where one of the Native American women, played by a white actress, is passed out on the ground and the group of white men are throwing liquor on her and she jumps up and starts dancing with everybody else, Young says of her breaking point to leavethe film. Thats not comedy when it comes to Native American stereotypes because were always portrayed as the drunk Indian, and thats just perpetuating those stereotypes.
In a December 2012 version of the script (via Gawker), some of the more offensive humor appeared to be toned down by the time it reached the New Mexico set. For instance, the character No Bra was originally referred to as Sits-on-Face. How about after this, we go someplace and I stick my pee-pee in your teepee, says one male character to Sits-on-Face.
Netflix defended the film and its humor in a recent statement. The movie has ridiculous in the title for a reason because it is ridiculous, the spokesperson said (via Deadline). 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.
Its comedy, but still Theyre still perpetuating the stereotypes, Young said in response to Netflixs statement, adding that Sandler was a good guy on set. Neither Sandler nor his Happy Madison Productions have commented on the incident.