Native actors abandon Adam Sandler's 'The Ridiculous Six'

LAS VEGAS, April 24 (UPI) -- Adam Sandler isn't making many friends on set of his Netflix original comedy The Ridiculous Six.

About a dozen hired Native American actors walked away from the project Wednesday citing sexism and disrespect to the Navajo and Apache tribes, according to the Indian Country Today Media Network.

Examples of such offenses include certain female characters' names such as "Beaver's Breath" and "No Bra," disrespectful, stereotypical costumes and insensitive treatment of cast members' cultural concerns.

Among those who left the set was Navajo Nation tribal member Allison Young. The former film student was especially surprised by the leadership's maltreatment of the issue.

"When I began doing this film, I had an uneasy feeling inside of me and I felt so conflicted," she said. "We talked to the producers about our concerns. They just told us, 'If you guys are so sensitive, you should leave'...This is supposed to be a comedy that makes you laugh. A film like this should not make someone feel this way."

"Nothing has changed," said Young. "We are still just Hollywood Indians."

The film is part of a deal between Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions and Netflix.

In a statement sent to CNN, Netflix defends Adam Sandler's creative decisions: "The movie has ridiculous in the title for a reason: because it is ridiculous. It is a broad satire of Western movies and the stereotypes they popularized, featuring a diverse cast that is not only part of--but in on-- the joke."

The Ridiculous Six also stars Will Forte, Taylor Lautner, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Nick Nolte, Luke Wilson and Rob Schneider. Neither Sandler nor his production company has responded to the allegations as of Friday morning.