James Gunn Fired as Director of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Due to Offensive Tweets
Freedom of speech is fine and dandy until someone unearths your old tweets that joke about rape and pedophilia and makes them go viral. Disney fired “Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn after One America News Network correspondent Jack Posobiec shared old tweets from James Gunn that joke about sensitive issues.
“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, the studio’s chairman, in a statement on Friday.
#WalkAway pic.twitter.com/cI8BdWxedu
— Jack Posobiec🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 20, 2018
Gunn has responded to the resurfaced tweets in a series of messages on Twitter.
“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 humor,” Gunn wrote.
“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,” Gunn added. “My days saying something just because it’s shocking and trying to get a reaction are over.”
The offending tweets were mostly posted in 2008 and 2009, but that did not stop conservative personalities from tweeting followers to confront Gunn at Comic-Con. According to Deadline, Gunn did not attend the previously planned appearance at Comic-Con in San Diego.
Some Twitter users were quick to point out that the tweets were over a decade old, and that fact should be taken into account.
These are over 10 years old, my dude. If, along with these tweets, some evidence that he was following through with anything he said here, then these would hold weight. Or do you think everyone should be judged on things they don’t do anymore?
— Eryk (@DoodleBlood) July 20, 2018
These tweets are so old that when they were made I didn’t even know Twitter existed.
Just saying.— Sven Cortel (@CortelSven) July 21, 2018
I don’t know, man. those James Gunn tweets are appalling, but I also believe someone’s perspective can radically evolve over the course of a decade, regardless of their age
— priscilla page (@BBW_BFF) July 20, 2018
However, others disagree and are pleased with the outcome.
That guy still has a job and a Twitter account? I guess I knew there were people like this in the world, but I didn’t know they talked about it in public.
— Pray For Israel (@athelass) July 20, 2018
Way to go @JackPosobiec excellent work, scumbag canned
— Maggie (@margaretjhowell) July 20, 2018
there are plenty of capable directors at Marvels and Disney’s disposal for GOTG 3!
James Gunn wasn’t heaven sent & if it wasn’t for the amazing cast, his story would mean nothing.
Stop defending a man who laughs at rape & pedophilia “jokes” just cause you like a movie…..— Armani (@armani_salado) July 21, 2018
