There’s a saying, “Fame is like a fire—it can warm you or burn you.” Adrien Brody’s latest Oscar win may have warmed his career, but his past comments on Woody Allen have sparked a different kind of firestorm. As he walked up to claim his second Academy Award on Sunday, more than two decades after his first, it was a moment of triumph—but not without a cloud of controversy hanging over it.
A brief acceptance speech gave way to a storm of backlash, reigniting past comments Brody made about working with directors at the center of high-profile sexual assault scandals. His collaborations with figures like Roman Polanski and Woody Allen—both mired in deeply troubling accusations—triggered a fierce response from fans, leading many to question his moral compass and the ethics of his career choices.
Adrien Brody’s controversial take: Defending Woody Allen and Roman Polanski amid allegations
Before we dive into Adrien Brody’s seemingly benign Oscars speech and the firestorm that followed, let’s rewind. It was his past comments on Woody Allen’s sexual assault allegations that stirred up the real storm, especially after Brody seemed to separate the personal from the professional in ways that didn’t sit well with many.
When Brody was asked about the intersection of an artist’s personal life and their work, his response was less than comforting for many. “Life is very complicated,” he said (SiriusXM), defending his collaborations with both Roman Polanski and Allen.
He pointed to their turbulent lives and suggested that judging their pasts in the public eye wasn’t his place.
I look to collaborate with artistic people and to go into an endeavor without judgment and to hopefully be treated with the same. It’s an artistic pursuit, and Polanski for instance had a very complicated and difficult life. It would be unfair of me to delve into something as complicated as the past that was brought up in the media.
But the problem isn’t just in the past; it’s how we move forward. Brody’s comments on a podcast left many scratching their heads. On one hand, he claimed that “people make mistakes in lives”, and that art should be about collaboration rather than judgment. But on the other hand, he implied that focusing on personal lives is a distraction. The logical disconnect here? It’s not about “indulging in fodder”; it’s about how deeply intertwined personal actions are with the art that shapes culture.
The backlash: Fans aren’t just disappointed, they’re angry
Adrien Brody’s speech at the Oscars 2025 felt like a love letter to the industry and the people who’ve supported him. He thanked God, his family, and his colleagues, giving a shout-out to his partner, Georgina Chapman (see Cosmopolitan).
Yet, when the applause faded, the criticism began to flood in—mainly about his comments on the #MeToo movement, the sexual abuse allegations against Polanski and Allen, and his refusal to acknowledge the broader conversation about holding artists accountable.
Let’s read a few comments:
karla sofía gascón: i hate minorities
adrien brody: roman polanski and woody allen apologist
sean baker: what’s an intimacy coordinator
conclave cast: pic.twitter.com/jBPgN7CAyH https://t.co/h5s5PY5Afe
— ana (@shivlestat) February 1, 2025
adrien brody i don’t like you and you’re not fab pic.twitter.com/2IcHCGtXfM https://t.co/BAfYoSEYlx
— izzy (@allthingsspc) March 3, 2025
AI drama aside, adrien brody is just an unlikable loser all around… it feels like ppl have forgotten the way he defended roman polanski?? and the fact that he’s dating harvey weinstein’s ex wife???
— s (@melIodramatic) March 3, 2025
need i remind yall that adrien brody is a rape apologist pic.twitter.com/OkHiTDc5ng
— lex! (@elextra__) March 3, 2025
adrien brody is a polanski defender, he’s dating harvey weinstein’s ex wife, and he once forced a kissed on halle berry without her consent. just so you know
— gillian murphy (@punkfrenchtoast) March 4, 2025
For many, Brody’s words felt like a slap in the face. How could an actor—who has experienced fame and success—sidestep the fundamental question: Can we continue to glorify someone when their past is littered with accusations of abuse and violence? In essence, Brody’s stance rubbed many the wrong way.
Fans, who once revered Brody for his incredible works, were now turning their backs. For them, it wasn’t just about whether he won the Oscar, but how he handled the weight of fame and responsibility.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
