At the recent Los Angeles premiere of Wuthering Heights, actor Jacob Elordi experienced a light-hearted moment involving gum, drawing attention for his quirky gesture. During the event, Elordi appeared to take gum out of his mouth and hand it to his mother, who caught it in her palm while he posed for photographs. This offbeat exchange quickly caught the eye of audiences and social media followers alike.
Adrien Brody’s Unexpected Connection to the Gum Toss
The amusing act by Elordi sparked a reaction from another actor familiar with gum-related antics: Adrien Brody. Brody famously threw a wad of gum to his partner, Georgina Chapman, just before accepting his Best Actor Oscar for The Brutalist in 2025. On a Bustle Instagram post sharing Elordi’s moment, Brody commented, “Relatable,” showing a humorous connection to the gesture.
Despite some criticism Brody faced following his gum toss on stage, Chapman clarified in a Page Six interview that it was her suggestion. She explained,
“I asked him to do it,”
and elaborated,
“I saw him standing there. I could see that moment of panic on his face. He was really like, ‘Wow, I shouldn’t be having gum.’”
Adrien Brody Reflects on His Own Gum Toss Incident
Brody also spoke about the incident during a Live With Kelly & Mark interview after the Oscars, sharing insight into his state of mind.
“I forgot I was chewing gum, and I can’t [chew gum in a] thank-you speech,”
he admitted. He further reflected,
“I could’ve! I didn’t think about that. [I just thought], ‘I’ve got to get rid of this somehow!’”
His comments highlight the unexpected nature and pressure of live award moments.
Jacob Elordi’s Oscar Nomination Puts Him in the Spotlight
Elordi may soon have another chance to replicate his unique gum-handing moment from an equally prestigious stage. Recently nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Elordi joins a competitive lineup. His rivals include seasoned Oscar winners Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro for One Battle After Another, along with first-time nominees Delroy Lindo for Sinners and Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value.
Elordi’s Creative Process for Frankenstein Role
In a detailed interview with Entertainment Weekly, Elordi described his immersive preparation for the Creature.
“Between hearing about the project and talking to Guillermo, from that point to the end of the thing, I’d filled this, like, tome, I suppose, this kind of giant diary, which was completely from the perspective of the Creature,”
he said.
“And when I saw the end result, it felt like it had come out of a fugue state. So I had this kind of giant bible that was his, I guess, the whole time I was shooting, and I filled the last page on the last day of shooting.”
Drawing Inspiration from Classic Silent Films
Elordi also revealed that he and del Toro studied silent movies to capture the subtlety of his character’s expression. He explained,
“Guillermo and I watched a lot of silent movies, ’cause they have a real subtlety to the largeness of their expression that sort of acutely conveys the exact point,”
adding,
“It can seem melodramatic, but when you watch them, when you really analyze them, they’re so succinct and tight, those performances. So there was definitely something in that.”
The Broader Significance of the Gum Toss in Celebrity Moments
The gum toss incidents involving both Jacob Elordi and Adrien Brody reveal a candid and humanizing glimpse into the pressures celebrities face during live and high-profile events. These unexpected antics resonate with fans, showing how even celebrated performers deal with nerves and spontaneous decisions during landmark moments. As Elordi’s Oscar journey progresses, audiences may witness more such candid moments from the rising star, while Brody’s reflection continues to remind viewers of the unpredictability behind polished award ceremonies.
