Adrien Brody’s viral gum moment at the Oscars on Sunday night gave viewers at home a lot to chew on — and etiquette experts have thoughts.
The actor was chewing gum when he approached the stage after being announced as the Best Actor winner for “The Brutalist.” What he did next spurred quite a lot of chatter on social media.
In case you missed it, Brody turned around as he appeared to realize he was still chewing gum, removed the gum from his mouth and tossed it to his partner, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, who dashed toward him from the audience to catch it. (You can catch the gum-tossing moment here.)
The roughly five-second moment did not go over well on X, formerly Twitter. Some users called the act “gross” and “classless.” Others questioned why the Oscar winner didn’t put the gum inside his pocket — or why he was chewing gum at the award show in the first place.
Backstage after the viral moment, Brody told “Live with Kelly and Mark” that he was focused on getting rid of the gum.
“I could’ve swallowed it, but I didn’t think about that,” he said, per Variety. “I had to get rid of it somehow.”
Below, two etiquette experts told us what they thought about the much-talked-about moment and what they wish people knew about chewing gum etiquette.
What were your initial reactions to Brody tossing his gum?
Jackie Vernon-Thompson, founder and CEO of the From the Inside-Out School of Etiquette, told HuffPost that she was “in immediate shock” when she first saw the clip of Brody tossing his gum to Chapman.
She was surprised that Brody thought it would be “appropriate to do such a thing in public and on such a prestigious platform,” she said, adding that the wide negative response to the moment was appropriate.
“Most know that such behavior is inappropriate, and it shows utter disrespect to the audience and the event,” she said. “It is disappointing that Mr. Brody felt such behavior would be acceptable to the audience and viewers.”
“Wrong move!” she added.
Jodi Smith, an etiquette consultant who specializes in social and professional conduct, said that Brody likely walked up to the stage with gum still in his mouth due to his excitement and that she thought the gum-tossing between Brody and Chapman was a “sweet moment.”
“His first reaction was to turn to his partner, who was totally there for him. It was a very sweet moment between two people who clearly have each other’s backs,” she said.
Was it inappropriate that Brody tossed his partner gum that was in his mouth?
Smith — who said she loves gum and has previously worked in a gum manufacturing plant — said that for starters, “gum happens,” and passing your gum to someone you have a close relationship with isn’t the worst thing.
“As any parent (and some dedicated teachers) will tell you, gum happens,” she said. “While handing your gum to a stranger, business colleague, or casual acquaintance would be off-putting and odd, handing your gum to someone in your inner circle is really not a big deal.”
Vernon-Thompson said that Brody passing along gum from his mouth, regardless of whom he gave it to, was a “disrespectful” thing to do among other people — especially in a formal setting.
“There are other ways to dispose of your gum,” she said, noting that as a nominee in that category, he should have removed his gum discreetly prior to the announcement of the winner.
Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Would it have been any better if Brody had just handed his gum to his partner?
The act of tossing the gum “was not only bad, it was disrespectful to the audience and viewers,” Vernon-Thompson said.
She said that while it would have been more appropriate if he had handed his gum to Chapman, an even better option would have been to discreetly remove the gum and place it in a piece of paper that he could have put in his pocket or handed to her.
“The very idea of his saliva in the gum going directly in her hand is just not a pleasant visual, nor is it hygienic,” she said.
Asked what Brody should have done differently as he approached the stage with gum still in his mouth, Vernon-Thompson said that while it’s “not the best practice to swallow gum,” she would’ve probably recommended it since she doesn’t believe swallowing gum once would have been harmful.
(A Cleveland Clinic article states that swallowing gum every now and then isn’t likely to cause harm and that it will come out in your stool, despite a popular myth that gum stays in your body for seven years.)
Regardless, Brody’s gum incident was “without a doubt inappropriate for the Oscars event” where “guests are dressed in gowns, tuxedos,” Vernon-Thompson said.
She said his behavior “devalued the intent” of the award ceremony and called his integrity into question “due to the poor conduct.”
Smith said she believes Brody and Chapman handled Brody’s split-second decision well. But she advised that chewing gum at important events, such as award shows, “is not recommended.”
She said coated mints are a better option and that if someone is chewing gum at a big event, they should have a wrapper or tissue in their pocket that’s ready to be used.
As for Brody physically tossing his gum to Chapman, Smith said that the toss itself was the “best option in the moment” since it was a live show where “every second counts.”
So, what is an appropriate time and place to chew gum?
Smith said the best time to chew gum is when you’re alone — perhaps walking, running or driving — or when you’re ascending or descending on an airplane. But gum is a “no-no” when you’re in a situation where others are looking at you, i.e. during an on-camera meeting, an in-person meeting, or during a job interview.
“When others can see you (in a shared workspace or on a video call), and generally when you are at an awards ceremony and you are one of the nominees,” she said.
“While I so love gum, it is difficult to look sophisticated or professional when masticating like a cow,” she said. “Best to keep the gum-chewing in public to a minimum.”
Vernon-Thompson said that chewing gum should be avoided in several public situations, including formal events, meetings and group dinners. She pointed out that for someone delivering a presentation, for example, chewing gum is distracting and can even prevent that person from articulating their words properly.
Chewing gum in certain one-on-one meetings can also convey to the other person that you don’t “respect the moment and experience you are sharing with them,” she said.
And if you are dining with someone, Vernon-Thompson emphasized that it’s “inappropriate and frankly impolite to remove your gum at the table for others to see.”
“Dispose of it discreetly prior to meeting them and sitting,” she continued.
“Always consider how your behavior will appear to others,” she added.
Content shared from www.huffpost.com.