Adrien Brody has divided viewers at the 97th Academy Awards by throwing his chewing gum to his partner after winning the Best Actor accolade. The actor, who picked up his second statuette for his role in The Brutalist, appeared to be so thrilled with his win that he only realized he still had his chewing gum in while walking to the podium, so he threw it back at his girlfriend, Georgina Chapman.
Georgina made a valiant attempt to catch his wad of gum before the camera cut away to him accepting the Oscar, but the moment did not go unnoticed, with many viewers taking to X to discuss. One person wrote: "Adrien Brody is a pompous [expletive]. Flew his gum as he entered the stage and cued the music off, then proceeded to virtue signal. Lost all respect for him."
Another person added: "Adrien Brody threw his gum at his wife before going on the stage, so I was already irritated before he started his feature-length monologue," while a third quipped: "Arrest Adrien Brody for hurling his gum at his wife at the Oscars."
© Penske Media via Getty ImagesHowever, others were more forgiving, with one joking: "I would’ve been fighting for Adrien Brody’s piece of gum like a wedding bouquet." Another person added: "Everyone mad at Brody for throwing his gum has never spit their gum (a tastefully erotic, romantic gesture) into a lover’s hand."
A third person posted: "Gonna defend Adrien Brody on the gum-throwing thing though because it [annoys me] when people give acceptance speeches while chewing gum."
© Chelsea Lauren/ShutterstockThe actor also divided viewers during his speech, where he asked producers to stop playing the orchestral music used to usher stars off the stage. During his speech, he said: "Winning an award like this signifies a destination and something my character references in the film.
© Penske Media via Getty Images"But to me, it also, beyond the pinnacle of a career, is a chance to begin again and the opportunity to hopefully be fortunate enough so that in the next 20 years of my life, I can prove that I am worthy of such meaningful, important, and relevant roles."
© Universal PicturesWhen the music began to play, he added: "I'm wrapping up, please turn the music off. I've done this before. Thank you. It's not my first rodeo, but I will be brief. I will not be egregious, I promise."
