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Jordan Strauss

Guardians of the Galaxy director rehired after being fired last year over old tweets that joked about rape

The director earlier apologised for the tweets.

MONTHS AFTER BEING fired over old tweets, American director James Gunn has been rehired to direct Marvel’s of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3.

Representatives for the Walt Disney Company and for Gun today  confirmed that he had been reinstated as writer-director of the Marvel franchise he has guided from the start.

Gunn was fired last July over tweets from nearly a decade ago in which he joked about subjects like paedophilia and rape.

The director earlier apologised for the tweets, which he called “unfortunate efforts to be provocative”.

Disney Chairman Alan Horn at the time said Gunn’s words were inconsistent with the studio’s values.

The comments, made from 2008 to 2011, were brought to light by right-wing commentators Mike Cernovich and Jack Posobiec who combed through Gunn’s social media history after his criticism of President Donald Trump.

But Gunn’s dismissal was passionately protested by many.

Fan petitions circulated online.

The Guardians cast, including Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel and other stars, supported Gunn in an open letter.

“Although I don’t support James Gunn’s inappropriate jokes from years ago, he is a good man,” Pratt said.

“I am tremendously grateful to every person out there who has supported me over the last few months,” Gunn said in a statement.

I am always learning and will continue to work at being the best human being I can be.

Gunn added a thank you to Disney and said he was excited to “continue making films that investigate the ties of love that bind us all”.

Gunn has since signed on to write and direct the next installment of Warner Bros Suicide Squad for the Marvel rival DC Comics.

That film is to shoot in the autumn and be released in August 2021.

A Disney spokesman declined to comment on when Guardians 3 might go into production.

The first two films have made more than $1.5 billion (€1.32 billion) in worldwide ticket sales.

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    Mute Toomasu Sumitsu
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    Mar 15th 2019, 10:56 PM

    I’m glad he’s back. Hopefully it’ll set a precedent not to condemn someone for life because they said something once a long time ago that wasn’t nice. Maybe his supporters can take a look at other people they condemn, sometimes without any evidence, and realise people have a right to a fair hearing and there needs to be a path to redemption for those that have said and done things in the past. We’re all flawed humans. Without sin, stones, glass houses and all that stuff.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:32 PM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu: Yes because its perfectly normal to make repeated jokes over and over about rape AND pedophilia, which is what this scuzz bucket did. If you were an employer, and a perspective candidate interviewed for the job, and you subsequently discovered he had a very disturbed sense of humor which he plastered all over social media, would you want him working for you? They werent actually even jokes, they were just odd, random but very offensive statements.

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    Mute Skybloo
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:33 PM

    @Toomasu Sumitsu: some more flawed than others – did you read his tweets? It’s not just one or two inappropriate tweets. There are a lot of them and quite severe.
    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/fb-5976069/amp/JAMES-GUNNS-DELETED-TWEETS.html

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    Mute Pat Conners
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    Mar 16th 2019, 12:01 AM

    @Pauline Gallagher: Jesus i am glad nobody from Disney hired me…when me and the lads are in the pub every Friday evening our jokes go much further. But then again we have a sense of humor and aren’t offended by every comment posted on social media. I guess its down to …….who gives a shit what he said and who gives a bigger shit about your opinion. ..life is funny sometimes

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    Mute James Doherty
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    Mar 16th 2019, 1:13 AM

    @Pauline Gallagher: give over wud ya

    39
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    Mute Felicity Hensen
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    Mar 16th 2019, 1:31 AM

    @Pat Conners: Rape is not joke material. Gang rape is not joke material. Suggesting engaging in sexually violent crimes against a child or an adult is not joke material. The level of global sexual violence should horrify you. Speaking in such a derogatory way about such serious crimes is not about whether a person finds it offensive or not. Sexual violence should be abhorrent to everyone, and that includes using it as the subject matter of a joke.

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Mar 16th 2019, 2:56 AM

    @Felicity Hensen: You obviously haven’t seen Jim Jeffries stand up on Bill Cosby

    32
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    Mute Keith Manning
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    Mar 16th 2019, 3:48 AM

    @Skybloo: that were 10 years ago. If I look back at myself 10 years ago and how I went on and what I found funny, it was embarrassing.

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    Mute Football in the Groin
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    Mar 16th 2019, 6:50 AM

    @Pauline Gallagher: Wouldn’t give a sh!t as long as he did a good job. Which he does.

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    Mute Felicity Hensen
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    Mar 16th 2019, 7:48 AM

    @Pauliebhoy: Actually, I have. What do you think was the point Jim was trying to make?

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 16th 2019, 10:55 AM

    @Pat Conners: So you joke about children being raped? Well wouldn’t want to be friends with the likes of you as you just said, joked about much worse than that. It doesnt GET any worse than that. I definitely would hire you either, and DISNEY?? Its a CHILDRENS film company!!! You dont get it, so why am i even bothering. Sense of humour??? for one thing, jokes are meant to make you laugh. You have one seriously ffed up notion if what constitutes humour.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 16th 2019, 10:57 AM

    @Football in the Groin: So what would someone have to do for you to have a problem with him? those films arent exactly essential viewing. Most films these days are pure crap.

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    Mute Mark Byrne
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    Mar 15th 2019, 10:54 PM

    Proper order.

    82
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    Mute Damien Leen
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    Mar 15th 2019, 10:54 PM

    Delighted…poor joke(s) but that’s all they were…great to see him back for GOTG…Love those movies…

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    Mute Carmel Carroll
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:06 PM

    @Just Eoin: well said, it was in poor taste, he did the time…. But GOTG is his baby…. he deserves to keep it!!!

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    Mute Sega Yolo
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:15 PM

    @Carmel Carroll: someone said today that he was being a bit ‘holier than thou’ himself before this blew up. I suppose he got a taste of that medicine too. Still, glad he’s back, I like his work.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:34 PM

    @Carmel Carroll: They werent jokes, they were comments about children comments of a sexual nature. Just these odd, random statements which show a glimpse into how his mind works. But whatever, as long as the films are good

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    Mute Shane McGettrick
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:23 PM

    Great to see him back, and an unexpected correct decision from Disney. His tweets were obviously unfunny and in bad taste, but of we were all to be judged by stuff we said ten years ago I doubt anyone would could come out looking good. Also a well placed kick to the nuts of the sad cases that trawl Internet history looking for nonsense to bring people down.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:35 PM

    @Shane McGettrick: did you say sexual stuff about children ten years ago? because he did

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    Mute A guy down under
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    Mar 16th 2019, 6:39 AM

    @Pauline Gallagher: I’m going to make such a joke right now. ”Do you know what the best part is about having sex with 21 year Olds?”

    I honestly don’t believe anyone has a history that is completely pure and clean. I don’t believe what he said a decade ago accurately represents who he is today, it represents his journey to who he is today. You might not think some topics are funny, and that’s fair, as you have lived a different life. He might not think their funny any more either but that’s a distinction that comes with life lived and experience gained.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 16th 2019, 11:00 AM

    @A guy down under: Oh give me a break, he wasnt a kid ten years ago who didnt know his own mind, he was a GROWN MAN. he hasnt changed, he apologized because he had no choice, but he lost his job anyway, unfortunately, it didnt stick. Shame on Disney. They are meant to be a CHILDRENS Film company. They have no morals and no principles by letting this weirdo back.

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    Mute Mary Brennan
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:11 PM

    He should not come back he knew what he was saying .He’s old enough to know it was wrong .only sorry when he was found out

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    Mute Rochelle
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:14 PM

    @Mary Brennan: Agreed. Money over principles from Disney.

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    Mute Young Angus
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:15 PM

    @Mary Brennan: never made a mistake have you?? You sound like an old nun.

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    Mute Gav Brosnan
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:16 PM

    @Mary Brennan: you go girl xoxo

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    Mute Damien Leen
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:24 PM

    @Mary Brennan: they were jokes…offensive but have u ever seen a stand up comedian in your life…shall we get them all fired for jokes that were made 10 years ago..c’mon…come down from that Ivory Tower…far worse things goin on in the world..

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:36 PM

    @Young Angus: Eh theres making a mistake and making odd so-called jokes about children being sexually assaulted.

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    Mute Hardly Normal
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    Mar 16th 2019, 7:10 AM

    @Mary Brennan: didn’t he post on social media? It’s not as if he was found out, some creeps just kept scrolling till they found what they needed.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 16th 2019, 11:19 AM

    @Hardly Normal: Oh right i see, the ones who pulled him on it, THEY’RE the creeps, not the sicko who wrote the tweets.

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    Mute James Doherty
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    Mar 16th 2019, 1:15 AM

    He… Or her… Who has not sinned… Please cast the first stone

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 16th 2019, 11:20 AM

    @James Doherty: I never committed any sins that involved joking about rape and child molestation, so cut the bible crap. I’ll trow as many stones as i feckin want, because no pretend man in the clouds is judging me for anything.

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    Mute Toffeemac
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:57 PM

    Ridiculous firing in first place. Don’t get me wrong I don’t agree with anything he said but seriously in this PC world anyone that said something years ago could be vilified nowadays

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    Mute Felicity Hensen
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    Mar 16th 2019, 1:35 AM

    @Toffeemac: OMG, right! Holding people accountable for their actions and words is such PC bulls**t. I mean, why can’t we all just say what we really think, whenever we want, about whoever we want, and to whomever we want. The world needs more honesty. That’s what’s gone wrong. Courtesy, respect, and manners are such horses**t.

    11
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:54 PM

    Well if Tucker Carlson can keep his job after the comments he made defending Warren Jeffs then everyone should have a free pass.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:41 PM

    And who gives a sh*t about Guardians of the Galaxy anyway? what is he making Citizen Kane here? some dumb movie for overgrown children

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    Mute colm connolly
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    Mar 16th 2019, 1:12 AM

    @Pauline Gallagher: the first one is possibly the citizen Kane of the mcu but then again that wasn’t even orson wells best movie

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    Mute Rowan Murphy
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    Mar 16th 2019, 2:21 AM

    @Pauline Gallagher: Citizen Kane is a boring high brow movie. Hugely overrated.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 16th 2019, 11:03 AM

    @Rowan Murphy: thats not my point. Im saying that hes not some immense talent and the world can live without his contribution to cinema, so i dont understand why people are so delighted for a third stupid space film.and for a family film company lie Disney of all things to rehire him is such a cowardly back-peddling move. They fired him for good reason, they should have stood their ground

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Mar 16th 2019, 11:22 AM

    @colm connolly: Yea im not getting into some intellectual film school arguement about the works of Orsen Wells, i was just trying to make a point about the hysteria surrounding his return, like these films arent that important. IO havent even seen Citizen Kane, couldnt care less about Orsen Wells, either.

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    Mute sequoia
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:29 PM

    So you CAN I fire a Gunn!!!

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    Mute sequoia
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:30 PM

    @sequoia:

    * unfire a Gunn

    Curse my fat fingers

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Mar 16th 2019, 12:57 AM

    @sequoia: I suggest a dialling wand, if you want to order one just mash your palm into your keypad

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    Mute Keith O'Reilly
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    Mar 16th 2019, 1:28 PM

    I’m glad the smear campaign from Trump supporters didn’t work (remember that’s how the tweets were dug up to begin with). At least Gunn has shown he can grow and realise what he said was wrong, unlike some people.

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Mar 16th 2019, 4:32 AM

    Brightburn looks decent. He’s done that one i think.

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    Mute Brian Flavin
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    Mar 15th 2019, 11:38 PM

    Glad Director James Gunn Back Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 Vol since fired

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