Adrien Brody’s acceptance speech at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025 sparked criticism from viewers about its length and unconventional moments.
The 51-year-old actor scored his second victory in the category after his 2003 pianist victory, winning Best Actor in his brutal role.
When Brody took the stage at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, he spits out chewing gum and throws it towards his girlfriend Georgina Chapman before beginning his speech, creating an unusual entrance.
As the orchestra began to envelop him, he insisted on “turning off the music” and continued to speak. “I’ve done this before. Thank you. It’s not my first rodeo, but I’m short,” he said. His speech lasted quite a long time.
Despite his intention to shorten it, Brody’s speech spread far beyond expectations, drawing waves of reaction online.
Many viewers called his actions “self-satisfaction” and jokingly said that his speech was longer than the brutality itself.
One viewer said, “Adrian Brody’s speech will take a break,” but another commented.
In his speech, Brody reflected his career and addressed the challenge of acting and touching on issues of racism and anti-Semitism. “Acting is a very vulnerable profession. It looks very appealing and it’s like that at certain moments, but it can all disappear,” he said.
His speech was one of several headline moments at the 97th Academy Awards, with Anora dominating the night with multiple victories including Mikey Madison’s Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and more.