UPDATE: James Gunn has released the following statement:
A couple of years ago I wrote a blog that was meant to be satirical and funny. In rereading it over the past day I don’t think it’s funny. The attempted humor in the blog does not represent my actual feelings. However, I can see where statements were poorly worded and offensive to many. I’m sorry and regret making them at all.
People who are familiar with me as evidenced by my Facebook page and other mediums know that I’m an outspoken proponent for the rights of the gay and lesbian community, women and anyone who feels disenfranchised, and it kills me that some other outsider like myself, despite his or her gender or sexuality, might feel hurt or attacked by something I said. We’re all in the same camp, and I want to do my best to make this world a better place for all of us. I’m learning all the time. I promise to be more careful with my words in the future. And I will do my best to be funnier as well. Much love to all.
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ORIGINAL NEWS: James Gunn is writing and directing the upcoming Marvel Studios outing The Guardians of the Galaxy - a cosmic romp which will likely be suitable for most ages of film-goers. So the Hollywood Reporter may have a point when it notes that it might have been unfortunate for the writer/director to have a graphically-written 'Fifty Superheroes you may want to have sex with...' on his website.
With nominees/descriptions including saying Batgirl/Stephanie Brown must be 'easy' because she's a single mother, wanting to have anal sex with Kitty Pryde, referring to Gambit as a 'cajun fruit' and topped by Wonder Woman and Gunn's hope that she could lasso a piece of his own anatomy, it's a blog-entry that leaves little to the imagination. After complaints that it was sexist, possibly homophobic and at least inappropriate, Gunn has now removed the entry, though the Hollywood Reporter links to a cached version of the site where it can still be viewed.
Impact tries to avoid the more tabloid stories but felt this was a story where we should report the basic facts because of the high-profile nature. Impact's opinion is that an individual can put up anything on their own site they want, within legal parameters, and we're not prudes...but we tend to agree that such salacious words may seem inadvisable, especially if you're ALSO the guy who'll be responsible for very family-friendly material in specifically the same genre.
HOWEVER, it is worth noting that amidst all the spreading ire about the content, that the post in question appeared over EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO, before Gunn was announced as the Guardians of the Galaxy's director - indeed, over a year before the Avengers came out. So whatever the controversial and sexist opinions on (and within) the piece itself, now removed, it doesn't seem like Gunn was courting as much DELIBERATE controversy with regards to timing as it could first appear.
Neither Marvel or Gunn have commented as yet.
