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Marvel rejects ‘X-Men ’97’ creator’s claims it ‘stripped’ his credits over a Gay Pride post

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Marvel rejects 'X-Men '97' creator's claims it 'stripped' his credits over a Gay Pride post

As a film enthusiast with years of immersion in the intricate world of Hollywood, I find myself both shocked and saddened by the recent turn of events surrounding Beau DeMayo and Marvel Studios. The abrupt termination of a creative mind like DeMayo, who played a significant role in shaping the beloved “X-Men ’97,” is not only disheartening but also raises serious questions about the power dynamics within the industry.

Marvel has finally addressed the controversy surrounding the dismissal of Beau DeMayo, the creator of “X-Men ’97”, who claimed that the company removed his credits from the show’s second season without justification.

Disney’s superhero TV and movie platform decided to end their relationship with DeMayo prior to the March premiere of “X-Men ’97”, following an internal investigation. A representative from Marvel stated this in a shared statement with The Times. Due to the severe nature of the findings, they cut ties with him immediately, and he is no longer associated with Marvel.

A week prior to the launch of the animated series, based on the ’90s original, on Disney+, The Hollywood Reporter announced DeMayo’s departure from the project. DeMayo had finished work for both Season 1 and Season 2 before his termination. At that time, Marvel chose not to reveal the reason behind this action.

A person acquainted with the situation informed The Times on Friday that DeMayo’s dismissal from the studio was linked to accusations of sexual misconduct. Despite this, DeMayo has persisted in sharing posts about “X-Men 97” online, which reportedly violates the agreement he allegedly reached with the studio regarding his termination back in March.

In June, DeMayo posted an Instagram photo of a drawing created by a fan depicting him as a shirtless character dressed in Cyclops’ X-Men outfit, complete with his signature glasses. The caption read, “Happy Pride!” However, he claimed that Marvel sent him a letter in June stating they would remove his credit for Season 2 because of the Pride Month post.

Apart from that tweet, he had previously stated it as “the ongoing series of issues I encountered during my time on #XMen97 and #Blade.” It’s been claimed that he was one of the writers for the early drafts of the delayed reboot. Following his accusations against Marvel, DeMayo mentioned he would temporarily quit social media to seek a more secure environment where he could express himself openly, honestly, and enthusiastically as a fan.

According to the source, Marvel chose not to include DeMayo in the credit list for Season 2 following repeated warnings from Marvel about breaching the separation agreement. Moreover, the studio felt compelled to comment on DeMayo’s departure due to his recent social media activity, as per the source.

Lawyer Bryan J. Freedman, representing DeMayo, stated to The Times on Friday that Disney was allegedly engaging in a “repeatedly unlawful practice” in his opinion.

“When faced with scrutiny or revelation, a sophisticated global public relations apparatus springs into action, attempting to shift blame onto truth-tellers. This is the predicament Disney finds itself in when it clashes with someone who has solid proof of such manipulation occurring more than 100 times. Many of these instances have led to settlements, not just hundreds but potentially thousands, in an effort to silence critics, employees, and even lawyers who dare to sue them.”

He stated: “The challenge for them is that I possess the proof, along with clients ready to testify honestly, and they are aware of this fact.”

The premiere of the initial season of “X-Men ’97” on Disney+ took place on March 20, and it’s been lauded by both critics and viewers. The first season culminated on May 15 with a three-episode arc called “Tolerance Is Extinction.”

As a dedicated cinephile, I couldn’t help but share my thoughts on the recent buzz about Marvel’s response that surfaced on Thursday. Intriguingly, DeMayo hinted at something more with his tweet: “The truth is yet to unfold.”

Following the debacle on Disney Plus, Marvel seems to be attempting to divert attention by accusing them of broken contracts due to tweets, as he went on to say. Unfortunately, this turn of events isn’t shocking. Keep an eye out for updates.

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2024-08-17 00:01

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