Entertainment

Bobcat Goldthwait Tells Disney: ‘Remove My Voice’ From Park Attraction Following Gunn Firing

Katie Jerkovich Entertainment Reporter
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Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait told Disney they should “remove” his voice from a park attraction after the “Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn was fired from the franchise.

“I love James Gunn. 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,” the 56-year-old actor wrote Monday. 

Gunn was fired Friday from the third installment of the Marvel franchise after old tweets resurfaced that appeared homophobic, racist and pro-pedophilia. The post included a snapshot of Goldthwait with Gunn.

“It’s called WORLD OF COLOR — VILLAINOUS, and I reprise the role of Pain, a role I played in Hercules,” the comedian added. “You see, here’s the deal. 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.”

“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,” a statement from Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn read Friday.

Gunn released a statement shortly after that read, in part:

“Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then. All I can do now, beyond offering my sincere and heartfelt regret, is to be the best human being I can be: accepting, understanding, committed to equality, and far more thoughtful about my public statements and my obligations to our public discourse. To everyone inside my industry and beyond, I again offer my deepest apologies.”

Other stars of the popular Marvel movie have broken their silence on the firing, including Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana.