Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn responded to accusations of pedophilia after a number of his old Tweets regarding the subject resurfaced.

1. Many people who have followed my career know when I started, I viewed myself as a provocateur, making movies and telling jokes that were outrageous and taboo. As I have discussed publicly many times, as I’ve developed as a person, so has my work and my humor. — James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 20, 2018

2. 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. My days saying something just because it’s shocking and trying to get a reaction are over. — James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 20, 2018

3. In the past, I have apologized for humor of mine that hurt people. I truly felt sorry and meant every word of my apologies. — James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 20, 2018

4. 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. — James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 20, 2018

5. Anyway, that’s the completely honest truth: I used to make a lot of offensive jokes. I don’t anymore. I don’t blame my past self for this, but I like myself more and feel like a more full human being and creator today. Love you to you all. — James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 20, 2018

Gunn claims the Tweets he made about pedophilia in his past were “shocking jokes” and that he “wasn’t living them out.” He also claims that he viewed himself as “a provocateur, making movies and telling jokes that were outrageous and taboo.”

While some of the Tweets in question do look like jokes, others are much more troubling. Here’s one of the more troubling ones.

A subreddit has archived a number of the other Tweets that we find too disturbing to publish.

A number of fans are demanding a statement from Gunn’s employers namely Marvel Studios and Disney. They also voiced their disgust at the director’s behavior.

Will Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios make a statement about James Gunn? Most likely not, they hired him to direct a kid friendly movie knowing those pedo/rape joke tweets existed. @gracerandolph @ColliderVideo — FILM GOB 5 (@filmgob) July 20, 2018

James Gunn

“Jokes” sexualizing little boys is not taboo, its disturbing

especially if youre in your 40s, established film career,in the public eye. Youre a coward & sick individual if you defend countless “jokes” about rape & pedophilia. Get these trash creators out of Hollywood! — Armani (@armani_salado) July 20, 2018

Reading those tweets, James Gunn needs professional help. It’s truly abhorrent and disgusting. Pedophilia, child rape, adult rape, any rape isn’t something that a decent person enjoys thinking about.

James Gunn enjoyed it to the tune of +1K tweets? ? pic.twitter.com/aIyg94FRGA — ?????? (@LiveLoveLupe) July 20, 2018

Y’all couldn’t wait to “drag” Henry Cavill for saying he’s a lil scared to flirt with a woman because he doesn’t want to be accused of anything, but yet y’all trying to defend James Gunn weird ass? That’s so typical of Twitter. — Rob Julien (@WayTooWitty) July 20, 2018

I’m honestly so triggered by the usual suspects defending this shit exit your echo chamber for five seconds to put yourself in the shoes of assault victims so you can understand why the shit James Gunn said was bad. It’s not crass jokes. It’s not “shit happens.” It’s harmful. — donnia (@fincherism) July 20, 2018

Gunn faced criticism when he was tapped to direct Guardians of the Galaxy back in 2012. Gunn had a poll on his website about which superheroes you wanted to have sex with. Gunn’s comments surrounding the poll were deemed homophobic and misogynistic by The Mary Sue.

Gunn isn’t the only Hollywood celebrity to be accused of pedophilia. Just last year, a man accused Kevin Spacey of pedophilia. The accusations saw Spacey lose his starring role on Netflix’s House of Cards. Spacey issued an apology to Anthony Rapp, his accuser, which did not paint a pretty picture, “But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.”

Maybe the most famous Hollywood pedophile case is Roman Polanski. The director, who has won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Director, was arrested for “drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl.” He would plead guilty to “unlawful sex with a minor.” After learning he would be imprisoned, he fled to Paris and has since been a fugitive from the U.S. criminal justice system.

James Gunn is currently working on Disney and Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

While the Tweets by James Gunn are rather damning, he should still be tried in a court of law if he did commit any crimes and he should still be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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