James Gunn is the latest to fall victim to man’s so frequent foe: their young, dumb selves. The Guardians of the Galaxy director has been kicked off his superhero series—and all other Disney productions, for that matter—after some decade-old, extremely off-color tweets resurfaced.
The tweets hit topics like rape, transexual people, and, repeatedly, pedophilia. One example: “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 blowjob.” It’s pretty clear they were all meant to be jokes, and meant to be provocative, but they are no doubt offensive—if for no other reason that being offensively bad jokes in terms of risk versus reward. Consequently, Disney on Friday officially dropped Gunn from their studio with a statement saying, “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.”
Pausing from his hair flat-ironing, Gunn has since released a response in which he apologizes and explains that he’s matured in more recent years:
2. 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.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 20, 2018
4. 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.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 20, 2018
5. 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.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 20, 2018
As has already been mentioned elsewhere, good thing Disney already got two Wreck-It Ralphs out before anyone showed them a Sarah Silverman special!
(It’s perhaps also worth noting that the tweets were dug up by Mike Cernovich, an alt-right and men’s rights personality who has made comments just as questionable and actually meant them.)
