Adrien Brody Joke at Oscars Leaves Viewers Feeling Disgusted
Adrien Brody returned to the Academy Awards stage this year to present the trophy for Best Actor, but he couldn’t resist a callback to his most controversial moment from the previous ceremony. While Michael B. Jordan ultimately took home the prize, it was Brody’s bizarre pre-presentation antics that set social media ablaze once again.
Last year, Brody won the same award for his role in The Brutalist, but his victory was overshadowed by a peculiar habit. On his way to the stage, he famously removed a piece of chewing gum from his mouth and tossed it toward his girlfriend, Georgina Chapman.
The actor’s speech at the time also broke records for its length, stretching nearly six minutes and defying the orchestra’s attempts to play him off. This year, he decided to poke fun at his reputation for long-windedness by pretending to pull out several pages of prepared remarks.
Just realized what Adrien Brody was referencing at the Oscars and now I feel sick to the stomach 🤢
— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) March 16, 2026
They don't even try to hide it anymore… pic.twitter.com/ZMVLL9CypB
However, the joke took a turn when Brody mimed the act of throwing gum into the audience, just as he had done twelve months prior. Instead of actually discarding it this time, he proceeded to put the imaginary piece back in his mouth and swallow it.
The reaction from the audience and viewers at home was immediate, with many expressing genuine discomfort at the display. “I’m gonna be thinking about the gum Adrien Brody swallowed for the next 7 years that it’s in his body,” one fan joked on X.
Others were less amused by the stunt during such a high-stakes moment of the broadcast. “Adrien Brody doing that with his gum is disgusting, why did he act like he forgot he was about to present a fcking OSCAR!?”* another viewer posted.
The move seemed to be a delayed response to a question Brody was asked last year regarding his gum-tossing habits. At the time, he told reporters that he didn’t want to swallow it and had to find a way to get rid of it quickly.
“I could’ve swallowed it, but I didn’t think about that,” he admitted during an interview shortly after his big win. “I had to get rid of it somehow.”
While Brody’s segment was intended as comedy, some fans felt the time would have been better spent on the winners themselves. There was significant backlash regarding the way the ceremony handled acceptance speeches for other categories throughout the night.
The team behind the hit song Golden from the film KPop Demon Hunters faced a particularly awkward moment when they were cut off. Even as their microphones were silenced and the stage lights dimmed, they attempted to finish their remarks to a confused audience.
“So we have time for Adrien to joke about speaking for too long but no time for the actual winners’ speeches?” one frustrated viewer noted. Critics pointed out that the show’s pace felt inconsistent, favoring rehearsed comedy bits over the emotional moments of the recipients.
Michael B. Jordan, the night’s big winner, also remains in the spotlight following his dual performance in the supernatural thriller Sinners. That film, directed by Ryan Coogler, features an ensemble cast including Hailee Steinfeld and Delroy Lindo.
The awards season has also highlighted the global reach of K-pop, with KPop Demon Hunters making history as the first animated film to win Best Original Song. The movie, which follows pop stars who hunt demons, has become a massive streaming success on Netflix.
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