Entertainment

James Gunn Removed From Guardians Of The Galaxy Over 10-Year Old Offensive Tweets

In a shocking development, Walt Disney Studios has fired director James Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy over his tweets which resurfaced from 10-years ago. The tweets were in poor taste and made jokes about sensitive topics such as pedophilia and rape. The tweets came out in the midst of Gunn’s increasingly vocal opinions against current US President Donald Trump.

Disney chairman Alan Horn released a statement condemning the actions on behalf of the studio, stating, “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”.

Gunn himself has come clean on the matter and released a statement in a series of tweets explaining his stance and how he’s evolved as a person in a span of 10 years.

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.

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 are over.

In the past, I have apologized for humor 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.

Both Guardians of the Galaxy movies have been huge success. The first one grossed over $770 million and was a surprise smash hit of 2014 while the second one made an equally huge $873 million. Gunn also played an important role acting in an advisory capacity on Avengers: Infinity War and possibly the upcoming Avengers 4 and was writing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for a tentative May 2020 release. Gunn has been instrumental in shaping the DNA of these films by infusing his style and bringing his energy into those projects, particularly the soundtrack. Those plans seem to be up in the air now as the fate of the Guardians hangs in the balance.

Gunn also issued an official statement later on, accepting Disney’s “business decision” with dignity and regret.

My words of nearly half 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.

I understand and accept the business decisions taken today…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.

It’s disheartening to see it end this way, and for this to happen around San Diego Comic Con. We’ll follow this story and let you know if there are any updates.