James Gunn, famed director of both Guardians of the Galaxy films, has just been fired by Disney as offensive Tweets of his from 2008-2011 have surfaced. Since Gunn is a very outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, many of his supporters looked for these Tweets to bring Gunn down, and it worked. Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn issued the following statement:
“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.”
Before he was fired, Gunn apologized for these jokes on Twitter and has now said he understands and accepts Disney’s move.
“My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative. I have regretted them for many years since — not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don’t reflect the person I am today or have been for some time. Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then. All I can do now, beyond offering my sincere and heartfelt regret, is to be the best human being I can be: accepting, understanding, committed to equality, and far more thoughtful about my public statements and my obligations to our public discourse. To everyone inside my industry and beyond, I again offer my deepest apologies. Love to all.”
The Tweets in question were jokes about rape and pedophilia, such as “Expendables is so manly I f—ed the s— out of the p-ssy boy next to me,” and “I’m doing a big Hollywood film adaptation of The Giving Tree with a happy ending — the tree grows back and gives the kid a b—job.” As of now, we have yet to know who will helm Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Source: Deadline