Adrien Brody has won his second Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist, cementing his place in Oscar history.
The 51-year-old actor’s victory puts him in an elite group of performers with a 100 percent win rate from multiple nominations.
However, his conduct when accepting the award has left plenty to be desired in the eyes of a number of Oscars viewers at home.
Brody won the award for his portrayal of Hungarian architect László Tóth, a Holocaust survivor who emigrates to America after World War II, has earned him critical acclaim throughout awards season.
Oscars 2025: Adrien Brody bagged the Oscar for Best Actor
GETTY
In his emotional acceptance speech, Brody reflected on the precarious nature of his profession.
“Acting is a very fragile profession. It looks very glamorous and at certain moments, it is,” he told the audience.
“No matter where you are in your career, no matter what you’ve accomplished, it can all go away.”
He expressed gratitude for still being able to “do the work that I love.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Adrien Brody calls out antisemitism and racism while accepting his best actor #Oscar for #TheBrutalist pic.twitter.com/dJvR5gxg0O
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 3, 2025
As the wrap-up music began to play, Brody requested they stop as he boasted it “wasn’t his first rodeo” so he could thank his parents for creating “a strong foundation of respect and kindness.”
Brody went on to say: “I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas and the repercussions of war and systematic oppression and of antisemitism and racism and othering.
“I pray for a healthier and a happier and a more inclusive world. And I believe if the past can teach us anything, it’s a reminder to not let hate go unchecked.
“I love you and I appreciate you all. Let’s fight for what’s right.”
While Brody was met by applause in the Dolby Theatre, several at home took issue with the actor taking it upon himself to demand the walk-off music was cut.
One fan took to X to mock Brody’s conduct, typing: “Adrien Brody seems to want to make his speech as long as his film #Oscars.”
While others were harsher in their criticism: “That whole speech made me feel icky Adrien Brody clearly thinks he’s gods gift to the world tf was that.”
“Is Adrien Brody’s speech not the worst? Wow. Why did he get so much time?” a third weighed in before a fourth said: “Adrien Brody just gave easily the worst Oscar acceptance speech I’ve ever heard. Wow. Brutal.”
And a fifth blasted: “Adrien Brody is so rude and entitled to think he deserves more time on stage than others #Oscars #Oscars2025.”
The criticism kept coming from a sixth: “Adrien Brody telling the Oscars producers to stop the music so he can keep talking is the most plainly cishet white man disrespect. This man talked for ten minutes. Jfc. #Oscars.”
However, some found the Oscar winner’s outburst endearing as one fan argued: “Adrien Brody shutting down the band to say something meaningful was the badass moment of the Oscars.” (sic)
Brody’s Oscar win caps an extraordinary awards season during which he captured nearly every major accolade for his work in The Brutalist.
Oscars 2025: Conan O’Brien was chosen to host this year’s awards
GETTY
He won the Golden Globe for actor in a drama in January, where he spoke about his family’s journey to America.
His winning streak continued with the Critics Choice award and the Bafta.
The only notable exception came last weekend when Timothée Chalamet, 22 years his junior, scooped the Screen Actors Guild prize for A Complete Unknown.
Brody triumphed over strong competition including Ralph Fiennes, Sebastian Stan and Colman Domingo.