Guardians Of The Galaxy Director OUSTED Over Controversial Tweets

I’m a big fan of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. I was skeptical at first, but now I get a kick out of ’em. Chris Pratt has a lot to do with that. This is the best.

Gets me every time. Plus, the movies have the absolute BEST music.

The. BEST.

But will the next movie have a different flair? I only ask, because the director, James Gunn, has been removed from his position following the emergence of some pretty controversial tweets about pedophilia and rape.

#WalkAway pic.twitter.com/cI8BdWxedu

— Jack Posobiec🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 20, 2018

Congrats Jack. The scum has just been dropped from the next Guardians of the Galaxy film.

— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) July 20, 2018

So…he’s out.

“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,” Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn said in a statement Friday.

He responded on Twitter.

1. Many people who have followed my career know when I started, I viewed myself as a provocateur, making movies and telling jokes that were outrageous and taboo. As I have discussed publicly many times, as I’ve developed as a person, so has my work and my humor.

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 20, 2018

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

3. In the past, I have apologized for humor of mine that hurt people. I truly felt sorry and meant every word of my apologies.

— 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

“I don’t blame my past self for this…” Alrighty then.

He also released this statement:

“My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative,” his statement read. “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.”

He continued: “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 too late to apologize, buddy. No Guardians of the Galaxy for youuuuuuu.

h/t Hollywood Reporter