Bobcat Goldthwait is the latest celebrity to come out against the firing of Guardians of the Galaxy’s James Gunn, and the comedian is now asking Marvel’s parent company, Disney, to remove his voice from its theme park rides.
Per Variety, Goldthwait voiced his displeasure on Instagram and then requested Disney remove his voice from the World of Color – Villainous show at Disneyland, lest the company “come off as hypocritical.” Goldthwait voiced Pain in Disney’s Hercules.
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“I love James Gunn,” Goldthwait wrote. “He’s a loyal friend, super talented, passionate and kind. I wanted to say something, here it is: Dear Disney, I would hate for you to come off as hypocritical, so I’m suggesting that you remove my voice from an attraction that’s coming to your park. It’s called WORLD OF COLOR – VILLAINOUS, and I reprise the tole of Pain, a role I played in Hercules.”
“You see here’s the deal,” Goldthwait continued. “Years ago I made a lot of sarcastically shocking and offensive jokes. Many that I’m embarrassed about now, and I’d hate to make you guys look bad seeing that I’m openly critical of the president and his administration, and you seem to be taking your lead from some of his radical fringe supporters.”
Gunn was fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on Friday after several near-decade-old tweets of his, joking about controversial topics like pedophilia and rape, were brought to the company’s attention via far-right conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich, who pointed to them as evidence of a “pedo network operating in Hollywood.”
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Although Gunn said he has accepted Disney’s decision and takes “full responsibility” for his past, the filmmaker has nonetheless received an outpouring of support from his peers, including Gunn’s brother Sean, Guardians actor Michael Rooker and Hellboy alum Selma Blair. Dave Bautista has also issued his support and ire.
A fan-launched petition for Disney to rehire Gunn is now nearing 220,000 signatures.