James Gunn was set to direct the third movie
Director James Gunn has been fired from the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie after offensive tweets resurfaced.
The tweets were from 2008 and 2009, and cover topics including rape, paedophilia and 9/11.
One tweet, quoted by The Guardian, read: “The best thing about being raped is when you’re done being raped and it’s like ‘whew this feels great, not being raped!’”
The tweets were brought to light by right wing site the Daily Caller. Gunn has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, calling him “a national crisis with an incompetent president”.
Several high-profile names have defended Gunn, including Dave Bautista, who plays Drax in the Guardians films.
I will have more to say but for right now all I will say is this..@JamesGunn is one of the most loving,caring,good natured people I have ever met. He’s gentle and kind and cares deeply for people and animals. He’s made mistakes. We all have. Im NOT ok with what’s happening to him
— Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) July 21, 2018
And comedian Patton Oswald criticised Mike Cernovich, the right wing alt-right personality who drew attention to the tweets in question.
This is one of the LESS disgusting tweets from Mike Cernovich, the dude who, after running a Gamergate-style smear campaign, just got James Gunn fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. Okay have a good weekend. https://t.co/7DYlin1zgO
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) July 20, 2018
A statement from Alan Horn, the Walt Disney studios chairman, said: “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 tweeted an apology.
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1020154777525575682
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1020154779169783808
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1020154780012834816
Gunn directed both Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and was set to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which is due in 2020.
