Over 70,000 People Have Signed a Petition to Have Disney Re-Hire James Gunn for GOTG Vol. 3

James Gunn had helmed two very beloved Guardians of the Galaxy movies, but last weekend saw him fired from directing the third installment due to some ancient tweets that have been brought up that included some offensive humor. Some people actually thought that Gunn's firing was unjustified and are now petitioning for him to be brought back to the project.

According to EW, an online petition to have Gunn re-hired has earned over 50,000 signatures online. Fellow director Joe Carnahan has even shared a link of the petition on his Twitter as well.

Disney had released a statement on Gunn's firing last week:

"The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James' Twitter feed are indefensible and inconsistent with our studio's values, and we have severed our business relationship with him."

It's worth noting that Gunn had already taken down these tweets before, and he had also apologized for them way before he was even hired to work on the first Guardians movie. Some people think that this sudden resurface of his old humor was part of a smear campaign to get Gunn in hot water; he has been one of the more vocal critics online when it comes to the modern political climate.

After Gunn as fired, he released a statement on his Twitter explaining:

"My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative… I have regretted them for many years since — not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don't reflect the person I am today or have been for some time."

More people have gone on to Gunn's defense as well including Guardians actor Dave Bautista. Patton Oswalt and Michael Ian Black have said their pieces. Comedian Rufus Hound had tweeted:

"Disney, your stories are so often about redemption… To fire James Gunn for jokes made as a younger man, jokes for which he has already apologized, goes against the moral code you taught us all when we were kids. No sense in cutting loose a good man. I urge you - rehire him."

Hopefully this all turns out well in the end. If you think Gunn should be re-hired for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, you can sign the petition here.

See Also: Sean Gunn Comments on His Brother's Firing from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3