Following outreach from GLAAD, and outrage from LGBT community and allies on blogs and social media, James Gunn has released a statement of apology regarding a blog post from February of 2011, in which the Guardians of the Galaxy director made anti-gay and sexist comments about characters on a list called “The 50 Superheroes You Most Want to Have Sex With.”
The recently-deleted post was reported on today by a number of outlets including The Hollywood Reporter and The Huffington Post. In it, Gunn referred to the lesbian superhero Batwoman as needing a straight male to “turn” her and called another male hero a “fruit,” among a number of other highly offensive comments. Gunn was recently tapped to helm one of Marvel Studio’s upcoming big-budget comic adaptations, Guardians of the Galaxy, which is scheduled for release in the summer of 2014.
GLAAD reached out to Gunn earlier today, who has provided the following statement:
A couple of years ago I wrote a blog that was meant to be satirical and funny. In rereading it over the past day I don't think it's funny. The attempted humor in the blog does not represent my actual feelings. However, I can see where statements were poorly worded and offensive to many. I'm sorry and regret making them at all. People who are familiar with me as evidenced by my Facebook page and other mediums know that I'm an outspoken proponent for the rights of the gay and lesbian community, women and anyone who feels disenfranchised, and it kills me that some other outsider like myself, despite his or her gender or sexuality, might feel hurt or attacked by something I said. We're all in the same camp, and I want to do my best to make this world a better place for all of us. I'm learning all the time. I promise to be more careful with my words in the future. And I will do my best to be funnier as well. Much love to all
- James Gunn