Article by Gregg Katzman; photo by Kevin Mazur





Director Zack Snyder gets a lot of hate online – I think that’s putting it pretty lightly, too. His recent work with DC’s iconic and beloved characters – Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, (some of) Justice League – was divisive among fans and received mostly negative reviews from critics. Look, it’s totally cool if you’re not a fan of those projects – I don’t agree with you, but I do get it. There are still a ton of debates going on in the fan community and among critics about Snyder’s take on the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight, but sometimes the especially harsh comments appear to be directed at Zack Snyder himself instead of his work. Constructive criticism about his movies is one thing, but why make it personal and cruel, especially when Snyder appears to be a legitimately kind and respectable guy? When did we start caring about fictional characters and films more than actual people? I’m baffled by the personal hate Snyder receives and I think it’s time for the conversation about him to change.





Photo by Mike Coppola

I understand why some people don’t like his version of Batman, Superman, or Lex Luthor. This isn’t about censoring criticism – it’s about separating the creator from their work. Based on my research, Snyder seems like a genuinely good guy, and the actors that have worked with him appear to have nothing but praise for the guy. Lois Lane herself, Amy Adams, said Snyder is “the nicest person ever” and a “respectful director.” Ray Fisher (Cyborg) is known for rocking his “I <3 ZS” shirt and speaking passionately about the director. Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) stated she is “forever grateful” to Snyder. Ezra Miller (the Flash) said that Snyder has “really taken care of us all” and added that the director was “so incredibly attentive to all of us and our diva needs and our questions.” He even joked that when he wanted to “overthink the physics” of the Scarlet Speedster, Snyder was “ready to engage with me on that level.” Love or loathe Snyder’s projects, it’s pretty obvious that he’s respectful and kind on set. Praise from your peers in the entertainment industry isn’t uncommon, but it’s clear the comments are sincere, and unlike many other people, there aren’t any negative rumors floating around about Snyder’s personality or his actions.





Snyder’s also kind to his fans. He’s regularly posting on Vero, engaging with his passionate fans and answering their questions about his work – sometimes he even says where he’s getting coffee so fans have the opportunity to meet him. While negative comments obviously do pop up, I’ve never seen him focus on those or talk down to those people – he seems to focus on the people who are supportive or have legitimate questions about his work.

Photo by Clay Enos





Snyder supported the National Guard during Man of Steel. He supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month during Batman v Superman. After the tragic loss of his daughter, he supported the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. And recently, he supported the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Seems like a pretty terrible dude, right? Also, I don’t know Snyder personally, but based on all the interviews and social posts that I’ve reviewed, he appears to be a sincerely loving husband and father.

Photo by Jerod Harris





Look, there’s an obvious emotional disconnect when we passionately talk online about the things we don’t like. It’s easy to get caught up in those feelings and say things to really emphasize the point, often completely forgetting that they’re about actual humans and not just a thing we don’t like. But when talking about Zack Snyder, I don’t think he deserves personal attacks at all. I hope people will keep that in mind when critiquing his work and the work of other creators. Say what you will about Zack Snyder’s movies, but Zack Snyder himself seems like a pretty great guy. Besides, if you truly love Superman, do you honestly think the Man of Steel would approve of you saying harsh things about someone just because you don’t like their movies?

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