Disney severs ties with James Gunn

[Skanky Vamp]

The driving force behind the Guardians of the Galaxy movies has had his ties with Disney severed due to decade old Twitter comments in which he made a "ill-conceived" jokes while trying to be "outrageous." He is now done with the Marvel universe, so no more Guardians Vol 3 from him, and no more input on the other Marvel movies; not to mention the other Disney subsidiary offers that may have now been taken off the table.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the biggest name in entertainment industry blacklists you.

Disney knew of, and responded upon, the comments in the past, but now that a conservative activist is mentioning them- and making headlines- Disney decided that the comments are "inconsistent with our studio’s values"

 

[nightshade]

That is ridiculous.

 

[DeadlyDuo]

I don't know what the "ill-conceived joke" was but that seems like a massive over-reaction by Disney for something so old and obviously insignificant that it wasn't an issue before. They're cutting off their nose to spite their face. At worst it should've just been a slap on a wrist, a "don't do it again" and then an apology. To blacklist someone who has helped make some very successful movies for you over a decade old tweet is ridiculous.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Here are the ones being referenced. I put them as spoilers as the subject matter may be sensitive to some. Again, Disney has commented on his past tweeting before now. His tweets never made headlines before though. Judge for yourself. I don't know why he didn't delete in the past.

Spoiler

 

[DeadlyDuo]

Those tweets are unpleasant and he should've deleted them. If Disney have commented on his past tweeting before, why are they making such a big deal of it now?

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I don't know what the "ill-conceived joke" was but that seems like a massive over-reaction by Disney for something so old and obviously insignificant that it wasn't an issue before. They're cutting off their nose to spite their face. At worst it should've just been a slap on a wrist, a "don't do it again" and then an apology. To blacklist someone who has helped make some very successful movies for you over a decade old tweet is ridiculous.

But they kinda had to fire him. They set the precedent by firing Roseanne Barr; if you have a zero tolerance policy you cannot alter it because one person makes you more money than the other.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

why are they making such a big deal of it now?

Because conservative activists are using them to bring heat upon Disney to fire him. In part due to the Barr firing but also because of Twitter comments made regarding the president.

 

[DeadlyDuo]

I thought the Roseanne tweets were recent? Hence why she had to be fired because it was comments she was currently making? What did he say about Trump?

 

[GraceK]

This is what happens when culture starts policing everything. Disney can’t fire Roseanne one week and not fire James Gunn the next. It’s all political bullshit. This time the conservatives took their shot and scored a win. This is the result of outrage culture. The idea that tweets from 10 years ago can destroy someone should be ridiculous but in 2018 it’s not. When you start demanding that every fart be punished this is what the end result starts looking like.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

The idea that tweets from 10 years ago can destroy someone should be ridiculous but in 2018 it’s not.

Exactly. There are no statue of limitations. This is not the first time people have gone back decades to find something to be morally outraged about and people have lost their jobs over it. But I think Gunn is arguably the biggest one yet. At least as far as losing their job over comments alone go.

 

[The Bronze]

A couple of those are amusing.

This is the trouble with having everything you've said lying around online, with no context, while times are changing. All sorts of comedy is frowned upon now that wasn't at the time. Very sad what people find to get worked up about.

 

[Mr Trick]

I do think some of those were in poor taste. Even if he meant them as jokes its hard to see what the jokes are. I can understand why he has been fired but the timing is odd. And a good talking to might have been enough. Its getting to the point where I think it might just be best if celebrities stayed off twitter.

 

[brinkster130]

While it's unsettling to see someone targeted over something that happened so long ago, it's also 2018, and people who don't realize that what you post on social media can have serious consequences are foolish. Also, saying "it was a joke" doesn't excuse you from consequences.

 

[thetopher]

Yeah, when you start firing people because they said something that might hurt somebody else feelings then its kinda hard to reign it in. Outrage is like that, its not very rational or discerning.

 

[Mr Trick]

Yeah, when you start firing people because they said something that might hurt somebody else feelings then its kinda hard to reign it in. Outrage is like that, its not very rational or discerning.

But if you put aside the timing which was odd, can you really say you wouldn't have done what Disney have done. Its not as if it was just one or two tweets, it was a whole bunch of them. I think its a little too easy to just dismiss it as "PC gone mad". Some of what he said was offensive. It looks worse in a tweet because he has commented on something without being prompted.

 

[GraceK]

But if you put aside the timing which was odd, can you really say you wouldn't have done what Disney have done. Its not as if it was just one or two tweets, it was a whole bunch of them. I think its a little too easy to just dismiss it as "PC gone mad". Some of what he said was offensive. It looks worse in a tweet because he has commented on something without being prompted.

So what that it was offensive? Is no one allowed to ever grow and change? That was ten years ago, and I haven’t seen any tweets from him like that recently or since. A lot of people say and do stupid things and grow up. It’s absolutely “PC gone mad” when you dig up things from a decade ago that has no relevance to who this person is today to fire him from a project. He has already made two films for them , Disney chose to overlook whatever dirty laundry was in his past as long as it didn’t make them look bad. Just like they did with Roseanne. If James Gunn actually diddled a child or raped someone that would be a different story. This sudden puritanical obsession with “naughty and offensive words” being a firing offense is ridiculous. And it’s a sham anyway. You think Disney actually really cares what their actors or directors really say or do? James Gunn or Roseanne Barr could
Probably murder someone and as long as twitter didn’t find out about it and make Disney look bad they wouldn’t care as long as it didn’t effect their bottom line.

 

[Mr Trick]

So what that it was offensive? Is no one allowed to ever grow and change? That was ten years ago, and I haven’t seen any tweets from him like that recently or since. A lot of people say and do stupid things and grow up. It’s absolutely “PC gone mad” when you dig up things from a decade ago that has no relevance to who this person is today to fire him from a project. He has already made two films for them , Disney chose to overlook whatever dirty laundry was in his past as long as it didn’t make them look bad. Just like they did with Roseanne. If James Gunn actually diddled a child or raped someone that would be a different story. This sudden puritanical obsession with “naughty and offensive words” being a firing offense is ridiculous. And it’s a sham anyway. You think Disney actually really cares what their actors or directors really say or do? James Gunn or Roseanne Barr could
Probably murder someone and as long as twitter didn’t find out about it and make Disney look bad they wouldn’t care as long as it didn’t effect their bottom line.

To be fair I already said that I probably wouldn't have fired Gunn. But I can understand why he was fired. I'm not saying Disney's motives were for the greater good. But anyone whose in business has to consider the image they are projecting or those they employ are. I think its a shame he's lost his job. It might actually be good timing from a career stand point though. The second Guardians was good, but you could tell those films have peaked and a third part would likely be the weakest. This way Gunn has gone out on a high.

 

[brinkster130]

Gunn's statement:

“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.”

 

[brinkster130]

TBH I think if he sat down with his PR team at some point in the last couple years and said hey, I want to make sure my past doesn't come back to haunt me, they could have made this go away. Or put a good enough spin on him maturing enough to stop talking about molesting little boys so much, that some nasty Fox news conservative couldn't have used it against him.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

Disney is a studio that made its name in entertainment for children. No one else was doing that when they began (in 1935) and the fact that they thrived during the depression was a testament to the fact that people thought wholesome entertainment was needed. Now they find out that one of their creative kingpins felt at home at a NAMBLA meeting (North American Man / Boy Love Association). How could they possibly retain any credibility in children's entertainment if he stayed? They should have fired him, alright. From a cannon.