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Seth Gordon, the director of Back in Action, addresses the controversial baby oil joke made by Jamie Foxx in the film. Back in Action follows two married former CIA spies, Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Foxx), who are pulled back into espionage after their secret identities are exposed. The film, which recently premiered on Netflix, also stars Glenn Close, Leela Owen, McKenna Roberts, Kyle Chandler, and Andrew Scott. Back in Action received mixed reviews, with audiences mostly zeroed in on the action sequences and star-studded cast.
In a recent conversation with Business Insider, Gordon clarified that the joke was an unscripted ad-lib by Foxx himself. This clarification comes after viewers began questioning whether the joke was linked to public events, such as rumors surrounding Sean "Diddy" Combs' parties. The baby oil joke, which Foxx delivers in a couple of comedic moments, became a point of interest after the film's release. Check out Gordon's statement below:
That was an ad-lib Jamie did. It was hilarious. We shot that the prior year. The Diddy thing happened after picture lock. Also, I don't think that means you're not allowed to use the words baby oil again.
What This Means For The Back In Action Production And Response
The Joke Was Made Before Allegations Dropped
Gordon pointed out that the scenes were filmed before the allegations against Combs broke in late 2024. The scenes in question detail Emily telling Matt how she wants to reconnect with their daughter by bringing back movie nights. She suggests they watch the Creed movies, and Matt responds by saying, "That's a lot of baby oil." In another scene, their daughter rejects the idea, and Matt tells Emily they will have a movie night anyway. Emily suggests Creed 3, and Matt replies, "To help, I'll put some baby oil on, like Michael B," referencing Creed star Michael B. Jordan.
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Indeed, this timing matters because it separates the joke from Combs, who reportedly hosted sex parties with over 1,000 units of baby oil and lubricant available. Given that the news about Combs surfaced well after production in November 2024, it’s clear that the joke was simply a product of Foxx’s improvisational skills. Despite the external noise, the production team had no plans to remove or alter the joke after Combs' lawsuits surfaced. Gordon made it clear that this was a line entirely driven by Foxx’s performance, which had already been captured and was well-received by the crew.
Our Take On The Seth Gordon Back In Action Clarification
Jamie Foxx's Joke Had No Ties To Controversy
In a time when public controversies and the entertainment world often intersect, Gordon's clarification about the joke was necessary but not unexpected. However, as Gordon pointed out, the timing and context of the joke’s inclusion suggests that there was no link between the film’s content and Sean Combs' allegations. In the context of filmmaking, it's important to remember that comedic spontaneity often emerges during filming, and the clarity provided by Gordon refocuses attention to the movie itself. Back in Action remains primarily about its characters and story, not the speculation surrounding it.
Source: Business Insider
Back in Action follows former CIA operatives Emily and Matt, who are thrust back into espionage years after retiring to raise a family. Released on January 17, 2025, the film unravels their return to the clandestine world when their identities are exposed.
Release Date January 17, 2025
Character(s) Emily , Matt , Alice , Ginny , Chuck , Baron , Nigel , Wendy , Uncredited , Dylan , Perilla de Volka , Guardaespaldas del pasillo Tate , Chica tatuada de Volka , Balthazar Gor , Coach Chris , Tyler , Daphne , Airport Immigration Officer Keita , MI6 Agent Obasi
Director Seth Gordon
Writers Seth Gordon , Brendan O'Brien
Studio(s) Exhibit A , Chernin Entertainment , Good One Productions
Distributor(s) Netflix
English (US) ·