On the contentious issue of James Gunn’s firing from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, Twitter remains the medium of choice for many a passionate fan, critic, and celebrity wishing to join in on the debate. It’s here that the cast of the sci-fi series chose to express their sympathy for the director in the past couple of weeks, albeit usually in reserved and somewhat ambiguous forms – Dave Bautista being the biggest exception. And now that the gang have released a joint statement to explain their united support for Gunn, it’s also via Twitter that the director’s various defenders and detractors are condoning and condemning this open letter.
In response to the statement signed by Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and seven other actors involved in the Guardians movies, the filmmaker’s sympathizers have posted tweets echoing the cast’s sentiments that Gunn has matured and redeemed himself in the years since making the incendiary jokes that cost him his job.
It happened nearly a decade ago, he apologized then, and again now. He's shown that he has changed an is no longer the same person who would do that kind of thing.
What more do you want from him? Do you stand by everything you said a decade ago?
— Erin Bode (@ErinBode) July 30, 2018
Pedophilia is unacceptable. But he hasnt actually committed pedophilia. Simply made a few horrible tasteless jokes
They arent okay, but the fact that he hasnt done anything like that in 7 Years,while also apologizing, and proving that he has changed counts for something
— Benjamin Elzey Reviews (@NathanielTalon) July 30, 2018
The age isn't the point, it's the fact that he has grown the past DECADE. He also apologized publicly years ago for it before he was hired by Disney so that shows growth also. What's the point in change if your past is thrown at you all the time?
— King (@Hiken0011) July 30, 2018
I agree. I don’t condone his tweets, but those were almost 10 years old and he already apologized for them in 2012. Now, if he did them today, then he’d deserve to be fired.
— Jason Bouchard (@JasonBouchard88) July 30, 2018
At the same time, plenty of tweets have argued that Gunn’s shocking statements are beyond redemption, and that Disney’s decision to drop him was fully justified.
Child rape is no joke Zoe, and no children cannot consent to sex. Anyone defending jokes about sex with children is part of the problem. #RapeCulture #TimesUp #MeToo
— hh (@HelenaHolten) July 30, 2018
No.
A vilain is a vilain, no matter how may pies he bakes for the villagers. pic.twitter.com/WDUJj9Fq2f
— ?Wonder Bruno? (@wonderbruno) July 30, 2018
Reminder James Gunn has over 10,000 deleted tweets and none of them are simply “jokes”. He made racist sexist and pedophilic comments. OVER 10,000. his age isn’t an excuse as he’s a 40 year old man when he made them. He’s a disgusting pedophile and deserves more then what he got
— Jumpsuit Victoria|??️?||-// (@TargaryenHalsey) July 30, 2018
the gotg cast is really out here defending james gunn this is why they didn’t survive the snap
— sosa (@pantheranium) July 30, 2018
Meanwhile, the Change.org petition to reinstate Gunn is nearing the 350,000 mark. Whether or not this backlash will do anything to change Disney’s mind remains to be seen, but however things turn out, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is already on course to being one of the most controversial blockbusters of 2020.
