Dave Bautista is not happy with the firing of James Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and he is not shy to admit it in public.
The most shocking news that the superhero fandom came across this week is The Walt Disney Company's announcement of severing their business relationship with James Gunn. The director who brought to us the first two Guardians of the Galaxy installments and was also set to helm the upcoming third one was found guilty of tweeting offensive and distasteful jokes about rape and pedophilia almost a decade ago.
The fan reaction to the sacking has been all over the place. Many are backing Disney's decision while many others feel that it was a bit too harsh as the director appears to have changed significantly in the recent years. While everyone at Marvel Studios is keeping mum about it, Dave Bautista has decided to stand up for his felled friend.
On Twitter, the wrestler-turned-actor expresses his dissatisfaction over James Gunn's dismissal from GOTG Vol. 3. He describes the director as a loving, caring and good-natured person who made mistakes in the past like everyone else. He apparently believes that Disney should have been a little more merciful to his friend. Check out the tweet below!
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
James Gunn too has issued a response to his ousting. Here's what the director has to say (via Deadline):
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.