March 4, 2025: Adrien Brody took home the Best Actor award at the 97th Academy Awards for his powerful performance in The Brutalist, but it was his unexpected “gum-throwing” incident that quickly went viral and became the talk of the night.
As Brody’s name was called for the prestigious honor, he was chewing gum. In a spontaneous moment, he decided to remove it from his mouth and toss it to his girlfriend, Georgina Chapman, as he made his way to the stage. However, the moment didn’t go as planned — the gum didn’t quite make the catch, and instead landed on the Oscars carpet in front of the stage, leaving audiences and social media buzzing with reactions.
Brody later addressed the incident during a backstage interview on Live With Kelly and Mark. When asked about the gum-throwing moment, he admitted, “I could’ve swallowed it, but I didn’t think about that. I had to get rid of it somehow.” Chapman humorously added that she didn’t catch the gum, and Kelly Ripa replayed the moment for the audience, zooming in on Chapman’s failed attempt to catch the gum as it landed on the carpet.
Despite the viral moment, Brody’s Oscar win was a major highlight of the evening. He triumphed over a competitive field that included Timothée Chalamet, Colman Domingo, Ralph Fiennes, and Sebastian Stan. His acceptance speech also turned heads. As the orchestra began playing music to cut him off, Brody politely requested they stop, saying, “I’m wrapping up, please turn the music off,” adding with a smile, “I’ve done this before. Thank you. It’s not my first rodeo, but I will be brief.”
This marks Brody’s second Oscar win, joining an elite group of actors who have won the Best Actor award twice, including legends like Spencer Tracy, Jack Nicholson, and Tom Hanks. His first win came in 2003 when he took home the Oscar for his portrayal of Wladyslaw Szpilman in Roman Polanski’s The Pianist.
Brody’s unique mix of award-winning performances and unintentional humor provided a memorable moment in an already eventful evening.