James Gunn Responds To Firing From Marvel & Guardians

Earlier saw the shocking news that Disney has fired James Gunn from Marvel Studios and the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

Old tweets from back in 2008-2011 resurfaced that dealt with topics such as pedophilia and rape, which saw Disney respond with Gunn’s dismissal.

Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn released the following statement about Gunn getting fired: “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.”

Now James Gunn responds to getting dropped from Marvel and Guardians of the Galaxy (via Deadline), of which he was supposed to start filming on the third movie early next year.

“My words of nearly 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.”

“Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, 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: accepting, understanding, committed to equality, and far more thoughtful about my public statements and my obligations to our public discourse. To everyone inside my industry and beyond, I again offer my deepest apologies. Love to all.”

It’s also been made known that James Gunn’s planned appearance at Comic-Con today has been cancelled. 

Marvel Studios has yet to make an official statement about the controversy or name a new director for Guardians of the Galaxy 3.