Adrien Brody sparked backlash following his Oscars 2025 Best Actor acceptance speech.
The American actor, 51, who is now a two-time Academy Award winner, has won a slew of awards this season for his role playing Hungarian-Jewish architect Laszlo Toth, who flees from post-war Europe to the US.
As he raced up to the stage to accept the award, the actor did a U-turn, with reports saying he threw what looked to be a piece of chewing gum at his partner Georgina Chapman, which she caught, raising eyebrows among viewers.
His speech also drew criticism when he demanded the showrunners “turn the music off” so he could continue speaking.
“I’ve done this before. Thank you. It’s not my first rodeo, but I will be brief,” he said—before delivering a speech that many felt dragged on too long.
Fans took to social media to call out his behavior, with some slamming his actions as disrespectful and others calling his speech unnecessarily long-winded.
One viewer on X, formerly Twitter, quipped: “Adrien Brody’s speech is gonna have an intermission” referencing the intermission in The Brutalist.
A second penned: “Adrien Brody managed to say so much and also nothing at all.”
Oscars 2025 in brief
- Sean Baker took home the best director gong for Anora - which also won best picture.
- Adrien Brody won best actor for his portrayal of László Toth in The Brutalist.
- The Brutalist took the best score award thanks to the work of British composer Daniel Blumberg.
- Mikey Madison won best actress for her role in Anora.
- Dune: Part Two took the best visual effects award and best sound.
- Wicked won best costume design & best production design.
- Kieran Culkin won the best supporting actor for his role in A Real Pain.
“Sorry Adrien Brody but you should have enough perspective to know that you need to wrap it up – this is so self-indulgent,” another viewer complained.
During his speech, Brody reflected on his personal journey and addressed issues of racism and antisemitism as he thanked his immigrant parents for giving him the “strength to pursue this dream”.
“If I may just humbly begin by giving thanks for the tremendous outpouring of love that I’ve felt from this world, and every individual that has treated me with respect and appreciation,” he said as stood on stage. “I feel so fortunate.
Adrien Brody managed to say so much and also nothing at all
— tabitha arnold (@thetolerantweft) March 3, 2025
sorry adrien brody but you should have enough perspective to know that you need to wrap it up — this is so self-indulgent
— amil (@amil) March 3, 2025
“Acting is a very fragile profession. It looks very glamorous and certain moments, it is, but the one thing that I’ve gained, having the privilege to come back here, is to have some perspective. And no matter where you are in your career, no matter what you’ve accomplished, it can all go away.
“And I think what makes this night most special is the awareness of that and the gratitude that I have to still do the work that I love.”
He added: “I share this with my amazing partner, Georgina, who has not only reinvigorated my own self worth, but my sense of value, and my values, and her beautiful children, Dash and India.
“I know this has been a roller coaster, but thank you for accepting me into your life. And popsie’s coming home a winner.”
The actor then insisted he would not “be egregious” as he asked for the music, signalling him to finish, to stop.
“Please, please, please. I’m wrapping up. I will wrap up,” he said. “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.”
“I have to thank my mum and dad, who are here as well,” he said.
“They’ve just created just such a strong foundation of respect and of kindness and a wonderful spirit, and they’ve given me the strength to pursue this dream.
“I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas and the repercussions of war and systematic oppression, and of antisemitism and racism and of othering and I pray for a healthier and a happier and a more inclusive world.
“And I believe if the past can teach us anything, it’s a reminder to not let hate go unchecked.”
After his leading actor Bafta win in February, Brody said The Brutalist was “an opportunity for me to honour my own ancestral struggles” as his grandparents and mother had fled Hungary “in ’56 during the revolution”.
The actor is also known for the adventure film King Kong, as well as Wes Anderson comedies The Darjeeling Limited and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
He became the youngest winner in the leading actor category when he won an Academy Award for Holocaust drama The Pianist in 2003 at the age of 29.
Elsewhere, Anora dominated this year’s Oscars, taking home the award for Best Picture, Best Actress for Mikey Madison, and Best Director for Sean Baker.
The independent film tells the story of a sex worker who dances at a strip club and meets — and marries — the son of a Russian oligarch. It takes a human-centred approach to filmmaking, focusing on themes of identity, resilience and a complex journey towards self-discovery.
Accepting the win, director Baker said: “I want to thank the Academy for recognising a truly independent film.”
Earlier in the night, an emotional Zoe Saldana broke down in tears as she picked up the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Perez, while Kieran Culkin was honoured as Best Supporting Actor.
Conclave, Wicked, The Substance, Emilia Pérez, and Dune: Part Two each took home awards.
