Oscars 2025: Adrien Brody slammed for ‘gross' action after Best Actor win
His victory was overshadowed by his bizarre action before he went up on stage
Dubai: Hollywood actor Adrien Brody may have won big at the Academy Awards earlier this morning, but his victory was quickly overshadowed by a bizarre and ‘disgusting’ moment caught on camera.
The 51-year-old actor took home the Oscar for Best Actor for his role as László Tóth in The Brutalist, beating out heavyweights like Timothée Chalamet, Colman Domingo, Sebastian Stan, and Ralph Fiennes. However, instead of making headlines for his performance, Brody sparked online outrage for an unexpected exchange with his girlfriend, Georgina Chapman.
As he walked onto the stage to accept his award, cameras captured Brody casually pulling a piece of used chewing gum out of his mouth and tossing it behind him—a move that left viewers cringing. But what truly baffled audiences was what happened next: Chapman rushed to catch the gum mid-air, seemingly to prevent Brody from littering on Hollywood’s biggest night.
They have been romantically linked since 2019 and made their relationship public in June 2021. Chapman was previously married to film producer Harvey Weinstein; their divorce was finalised in 2021.
Social Media Reacts to ‘Chewing Gumgate’
Unsurprisingly, the internet had a lot to say about the odd moment, with many slamming Brody’s behavior as unhygienic and disrespectful.
"Not Adrien Brody doing the ‘hold my gum’ routine at the Oscars," one viewer wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Another added, "Adrien Brody could’ve used his long speech to apologise to his partner for throwing gum at her."
Others were even more blunt:
"No shade, but Adrien throwing that gum at his wife was so tacky and gross," one person commented.
While many found the exchange revolting, some saw it as an oddly sweet display of affection.
"Adrien Brody throwing his chewing gum and his wife catching it is true love," one fan joked.
Another quipped, "I would’ve been fighting for Adrien Brody’s gum like a wedding bouquet."
A night of viral moments?
The chewing gum toss wasn’t Brody’s only headline-making moment. His lengthy acceptance speech also drew criticism, with some comparing it to The Brutalist's three-hour, 35-minute runtime.
"Adrien Brody’s speech is gonna have an intermission," one viewer joked.
Adding to the night’s drama, Halle Berry also had her moment of revenge, recalling Brody’s infamous 2003 Oscars stunt, where he controversially kissed her without consent after winning Best Actor for The Pianist.
Between the gum toss, the drawn-out speech, and Berry’s silent payback, it’s safe to say Brody’s Oscar night won’t be forgotten anytime soon—for better or worse.
