Life

Disney axes director James Gunn over offensive tweets

July 21, 2018
James Gunn
James Gunn



SAN DIEGO - "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise director James Gunn has been axed from the third movie over a series of offensive messages posted on Twitter several years ago.

The tweets, mainly from 2008 and 2011, joked about taboo topics such as rape and pedophilia.

Disney, which owns the franchise as the parent company of Marvel Studios, released a media statement confirming the studio was parting ways with one of its biggest stars.

"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, chairman of Walt Disney Studios.

Gunn has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and has drawn the ire of conservative critics, who went back through his timeline and dug up the tweets.

Gunn, who has deleted his account, described himself as a "very, very different" person than when he wrote the tweets, now focusing on love rather than anger.

"My days saying something just because it's shocking and trying to get a reaction are over," he added.

Gunn directed both "Guardians of the Galaxy" films, and was planning to head to San Diego's huge annual Comic-Con fan convention this week with a secret film project that he had teased on Instagram.

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" is due out in 2020. - AFP


July 21, 2018
35 views
HIGHLIGHTS
Life
day ago

Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750

Life
day ago

Half of women in music experience discrimination, report finds

Life
8 days ago

Scientists say they can cut HIV out of cells