Actor Kurt Russell says people have been “too sensitive” about the repeated rape and pedophile tweets that led to director James Gunn’s firing from Disney.
“Ego” from “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2” joined his peers over the weekend in defending Mr. Gunn by saying he was “stretching the boundaries” to make people happy.
Disney terminated Mr. Gunn’s contract in late July after his years of pedophile tweets threatened its family-friendly brand.
“You have to realize that when you are in the world as a comedian, a writer, whatever you’re always stretching the boundaries and trying to find something which lead him to something that the world loves, which is ’Guardians of the Galaxy,’ ” Mr. Russell told on Variety while attending Netflix’s “Wild, Wild Country” Emmy celebration on Saturday. “He has a wonderful heart and a wonderful mind. I hope he is forgiven.”
The actor’s comments come in the wake of a letter signed by Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana and other cast members in defense of Mr. Gunn.
“It’s sad [what happened to Mr. Gunn],” Mr. Russell, 67, said. “But it’s part of our fabric now, and I get it. But I do think we’re getting a little too sensitive on maybe some of the wrong people.”
Mr. Gunn apologized on July 20 for his pedophile tweets by saying he was trying to be a “provocateur” at that point in his life.
“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,” he tweeted. “My days saying something just because it’s shocking and trying to get a reaction are over. In the past, I have apologized for humor of mine that hurt people. I truly felt sorry and meant every word of my apologies. 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.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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