Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista has defended James Gunn tweeting he is “NOT ok with what’s happening to him”.
Gunn, director of GOTG, was fired from the film’s third instalment after a series of disturbing tweets resurfaced online from the periods between 2008 and 2011. The tweets showed the now 51-year-old making multiple jokes about rape and paedophilia.
Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn said in a statement:
The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James’ Twitter feed are indefensible.
[They are] inconsistent with our studio’s values, and we have severed our business relationship with him.
Bautista, who plays Drax in the Marvel films, took to his Twitter to defend Gunn’s character:
“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. I’m NOT ok with what’s happening to him.”
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
An hour after Disney’s decision to fire the director, Gunn released a statement to Variety accepting full responsibility for his past behaviour:
“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.”
Gunn also apologised via a five-part thread on his Twitter account where he denied any engagement in the actions tweeted.
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1020154779169783808
The tweets were brought to attention by right-wing social media personality Mike Cernovich.
Disney has not announced a replacement for Gunn with GOTG Vol. 3 set to hit theatres 2020.
