Disney has let go of James Gunn, the now former director behind the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy 3 film.
After a heated Twitter exchange between Gunn and a far-right user, who managed to restore old and more importantly, offensive tweets made by Gunn. Disney has decided to drop Gunn from future projects, including Guardians of the Galaxy 3, which he was directing.
“The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James’ Twitter feed are indefensible and inconsistent with our studio’s values, and we have severed our business relationship with him,” said Alan Horn, Disney Studios’s chairman.
This incident transpired after Mike Cernovich, a well-known internet personality and conspiracy theorist dredged up decade-old tweets that Gunn made. Unfortunately for Gunn, the tweets that were resurfaced were rather offensive, containing references to paedophilia and rape. In the past, Cernovich orchestrated a fake conspiracy against Hilary Clinton, during her campaign, in which he alleged her of being involved in a child sex ring in the basement of a pizza restaurant, which ultimately became to be known as Pizzagate.
Cernovich called out Gunn on Twitter, accusing him of being a pedophile, going as far as forwarding Gunn’s old tweets to Disney which in turn lead to his departure from the latest Guardians movie, as director. Cernovich added that, “James Gunn didn’t make a few jokes. He openly discussed pedophilia. He is everything wrong with Hollywood.”
After the incident, Gunn made a statement apologizing for the old tweets, citing that they had already made amends years ago and that they were offensive and outrageous. His full response can be read down below:
“Many people who have followed my career know when I started, I viewed myself as a provocateur, making movies and telling jokes that were outrageous and taboo. As I have discussed publicly many times, as I’ve developed as a person, so has my work and my humour.
It’s not to say I’m better, but I am very, very different than I was a few years ago; today I try to root my work in love and connection and less in anger. My days saying something just because it’s shocking and trying to get a reaction is over.
In the past, I have apologized for humour of mine that hurt people. I truly felt sorry and meant every word of my apologies.
For the record, when I made these shocking jokes, I wasn’t living them out. I know this is a weird statement to make, and seems obvious, but, still, here I am, saying it.
Anyway, that’s the completely honest truth: I used to make a lot of offensive jokes. I don’t anymore. I don’t blame my past self for this, but I like myself more and feel like a more full human being and creator today. Love you to you all.”
Gunn has previously been under fire for the tweets resurfaced by Cenovich and posts made Gunn’s blog, in which he was called out by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Gunn like in the most recent incident made a similar statement which can be read down below:
“A couple of years ago I wrote a blog that was meant to be satirical and funny. In rereading it over the past day I don’t think it’s funny. The attempted humour in the blog does not represent my actual feelings. However, I can see where statements were poorly worded and offensive to many. I’m sorry and regret making them at all
People who are familiar with me as evidenced by my Facebook page and other mediums know that I’m an outspoken proponent for the rights of the gay and lesbian community, women and anyone who feels disenfranchised, and it kills me that some other outsider like myself, despite his or her gender or sexuality, might feel hurt or attacked by something I said. We’re all in the same camp, and I want to do my best to make this world a better place for all of us. I’m learning all the time. I promise to be more careful with my words in the future. And I will do my best to be funnier as well.”
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