When he slammed the Academy for snubbing his buddy Adam Sandler, Chris Rock didn't hold back. The legendary comedian went on a fiery tirade during the recent Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony, calling out the Oscars for failing to recognize Sandler's undeniable talents. Despite a career filled with critically acclaimed performances, the Sandman has never been nominated. Rock doesn't have it and let everyone know it in a passionate speech at the Kennedy Center.
Rock, who has previously hosted and presented at the Academy Awards, lambasted the awards body for its failure to honor the Sandman for his powerful performance in the 2019 film Uncut Gems or any of his other notable works.
Sandler has had a successful film career spanning several decades. However, despite receiving critical acclaim for his dramatic roles in Uncut Gems, Punch-Drunk Love, and The Meyerowitz Stories, the comedian has never won or been nominated for an Oscar.
According to Entertainment Weekly's Jessica Derschowitz, the disconnect might be because many still associate Sandler with the goofy man-children he has played in films like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and his Netflix originals.
During his speech, Rock, who has been friends with Sandler for over 30 years, praised Sandler's talent and dedication, calling him "one of the greatest of all time." He also recalled that Sandler was one of the first people to embrace him at a time when he was one of the few Black comics in their shared social scene.
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is an award presented to comedians who have significantly impacted American society. This year, Sandler was honored with the award, joining previous recipients such as Dave Chappelle, Ellen DeGeneres, and Bill Murray.
During his acceptance speech, Sandler thanked his wife, children, and fans for their support throughout his career. He also paid tribute to his late co-star Cameron Boyce, who passed away in 2019 at 20.
Rock was not the only celebrity to sing Sandler's praises during the ceremony. Jennifer Aniston, Pete Davidson, Drew Barrymore, David Spade, and other notable figures admired the comedian.
Despite the Oscars overlooking his talent, Sandler thrives in the entertainment industry. He recently starred in the Netflix film, Hustle and is set to appear in the upcoming film, Spaceman.
Although he did not secure an Oscar nomination for his role in Uncut Gems, Sandler did win an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead in the same year.
Rock and Sandler's friendship dates back to their time on Saturday Night Live. The two have remained close over the years and have collaborated on several projects, including the film Grown Ups.
The Academy Awards have faced criticism recently for their lack of diversity and representation. The #OscarsSoWhite movement drew attention to the issue, and the Academy has since taken steps to address it.
Rock turned down the opportunity to host the 2023 Oscars after being slapped by Will Smith at the previous year's awards ceremony. The incident occurred after Rock made a joke about Smith's role in the film, Concussion.
Despite his decades-long film career, Adam Sandler has never been nominated for an Academy Award. This is a fact that Chris Rock highlighted in his recent speech honoring the comedian at the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony.
Although Sandler is known for his comedic roles, he has received critical acclaim for his dramatic performances. In particular, his role in Uncut Gems received rave reviews and was widely regarded as a career-best performance.
In his speech honoring Sandler, Chris Rock reflected on their decades-long friendship and Sandler's support of him during the early days of his career. Sandler was among the first to embrace Rock in the comedy scene, and their friendship has endured.
Chris Rock did not hold back his criticism of the Academy, calling them "f---ing a-holes" for overlooking Sandler's performances. This is not the first time Rock has been critical of the Academy, having previously hosted and presented at the awards show.
While Sandler did not receive an Oscar nomination for his role in Uncut Gems, he did win an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. This recognition was a bright spot in Sandler's otherwise disappointing awards season.
Rock, who has hosted and presented at the Academy Awards in the past, criticized the awards body for failing to recognize Sandler's impressive film work. Despite receiving rave reviews for his dramatic performances in films like Uncut Gems, Punch-Drunk Love, and The Meyerowitz Stories, Sandler has never won or been nominated for an Oscar.
In the lead-up to the 92nd Academy Awards, Sandler jokingly said that if he didn't receive the Best Actor nod for Uncut Gems, he would go out and make a movie that was "bad on purpose just to make you all pay." While he didn't secure the nomination, Sandler won an Independent Spirit Award for the role the same year.
