Termination of X-Men '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo: Misconduct Fueled Decision, Marvel States
Revamped Rehash
Beau DeMayo's explosive claims against Marvel continue to rock the entertainment industry, with the former showrunner alleging a smear campaign, disputed sexual misconduct charges, and a bizarre credit removal over a simple piece of fan art. Here's the lowdown on this wild ride.
In a bombshell move on both Instagram and Twitter last night, DeMayo, the creative force behind X-Men '97, unveiled a statement accusing Marvel of stripping him of credits on work for the upcoming second season, despite largely completed scripts before he left the show in March 2024. The catalyst for this controversy? A shirtless Cyborg-inspired drawing he shared for Pride Month in June.
"This is a continuation of a troubling pattern I experienced during my time at X-Men '97 and Blade," DeMayo wrote. "I'm delighted to have contributed to this revival, collaborating with an incredible team. The outpouring of love from fans has been uplifting."
Marvel swiftly responded to the allegations, issuing a rare statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "DeMayo was dismissed in March 2024 following an internal investigation. Given the severity of the findings, we ended our association with him immediately, with no further ties."
However, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, citing unnamed sources, claimed that DeMayo was ousted from X-Men '97 due to an internal investigation into sexual misconduct. Both parties had supposedly agreed to restrict DeMayo's discussion about the series post-exit, yet he freely spoke about the show's progress as it gained both critical and popular acclaim, even up to this week when he complained about being overlooked for the 2024 Emmy nominations. It was breaches of this agreement that allegedly led to DeMayo's credit removal for Season 2.
When asked for comment, a Disney spokesperson directed io9 to The Hollywood Reporter piece. DeMayo later released a follow-up statement on social media, referencing Variety's reporting: "The truth will come to light. After Disney Plus' recent blunders, Marvel wants to mislead with alleged contract breaches over tweets. It's unfortunate it's come to this but unsurprising. This is their typical tactic for deflection – legal threats and other documents to prove their familiar approach."
DeMayo's allegations go beyond credit removal. He suggests that Marvel's actions are part of a smear campaign aiming to cover up what he refers to as "prejudicial misconduct." He alludes to racism within Marvel and disputes allegations of sexual misconduct, instead pointing toward other reasons for his firing. He also expresses frustration with Marvel leader Kevin Feige, claiming a disconnect between the show's creators and Marvel Studios leadership.
With Marvel and DeMayo at odds, fans eagerly await the full story behind the scenes of X-Men '97. As we keep our eyes peeled for more developments, let's take a moment to look forward to other exciting releases on the horizon, including upcoming releases for Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the future of the DC Universe, and, of course, the latest scoop on Doctor Who. Stay tuned!
Enrichment Data:Beau DeMayo's allegations against Marvel involve several key points:
- Allegations of Sexual Misconduct and Credit Removal:
- DeMayo was fired from his role as showrunner of X-Men '97 following an internal investigation by Marvel. The company stated this decision was based on "egregious findings" related to allegations of inappropriate behavior, including sending lewd photos to staff members and accusations of physical and sexual inappropriateness[2][3].
- DeMayo denies these allegations, suggesting instead that his firing was due to other reasons. He also claims that Marvel removed his writing credits for Season 2 after he shared a sexually suggestive drawing of Cyborg, which he believes is further retaliation[3].
- Claims of a Smear Campaign:
- DeMayo alleges that the allegations against him are part of a smear campaign designed to discredit him and cover up what he describes as "prejudicial misconduct" within Marvel, which he says includes racism[1].
- He claims that his attempts to incorporate comic book elements into X-Men '97 were met with resistance from executives, who instead wanted to create a new, divergent storyline. DeMayo suggests this resistance was motivated by a desire to move away from the original comic book stories, which he believes is an attempt to undermine his fan-oriented approach[1].
- Relationship with Marvel Executives and Feige's Involvement:
- DeMayo has criticized Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, stating that Feige was annoyed by the success of X-Men '97, particularly as fans compare it to previous X-Men films, such as X2: X-Men United, with which Feige was involved. DeMayo feels this reaction reflects disrespect towards his work and the crew[1].
- DeMayo claims he never received any direct feedback from Feige during his time on the project, suggesting a disconnect between the show's creators and Marvel's leadership[1].
- Beau DeMayo's allegations against Marvel extend beyond credit removal, claiming a smear campaign to cover up 'prejudicial misconduct', including alleged racism within the company.
- According to DeMayo, he was dismissed from his role as showrunner of 'X-Men '97' due to an internal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, but he denies these claims and suggests other reasons for his firing.
- DeMayo alleges that Marvel removed his writing credits for Season 2 in retaliation for a sexually suggestive drawing of Cyborg he shared on social media, a part of what he describes as a larger smear campaign.
- DeMayo criticizes Marvel leader Kevin Feige, claiming a disconnect between the show's creators and Marvel Studios leadership, citing Feige's supposed annoyance about the show's success and respect for the original comic book stories.
