The attorney for “X-Men ‘97” creator Beau DeMayo, who was embroiled in a war of words with Marvel Studios related to his firing in March, released a statement Friday that accused the Walt Disney Company, the studio’s parent, of “illegal” behavior.
Bryan Freedman, who has handled some of Hollywood’s biggest wrongful termination cases in recent years, issued his statement after his client’s claim on social media that he had lost his season two credit on “X-Men ’97” after sharing Pride-themed fan art.
Marvel Studios responded a short time later Thursday night that DeMayo, who identifies as gay, was fired after a misconduct investigation produced findings of “egregious nature.” The studio didn’t offer any further information on the investigation.
The credit was removed due to breaching of the two sides’ separation agreement, according to published reports.
Freedman did not address the specific allegations, but blasted Disney’s practices, which he called “illegal” multiple times.
“Having much experience with Disney, the playbook is always the same. Family friendly on the outside, but secretly attempting to plant illegal unconscionable items in contracts that silence the truth and stop the employee/customer from asserting basic constitutional rights,” Freedman said.
“Having much experience with Disney, the playbook is always the same. Family friendly on the outside, but secretly attempting to plant illegal unconscionable items in contracts that silence the truth and stop the employee/customer from asserting basic constitutional rights,” Freedman said.
“As we will explain through detailed examples which we will roll out in detail one by one, Disney’s model is very clear and a repetitive illegal pattern,” Freedman continued. “Once it gets challenged or exposed, the gaslighting and redirection of the blame toward anyone willing to tell the truth starts through an international well oiled publicity machine.”
As for his client, “Beau DeMayo wants nothing from Marvel/Disney except the truth,” Freedman said. “He will bravely tell the truth. So will I. Stand by.”
Here is Bryan Freedman’s full statement:
Having much experience with Disney, the playbook is always the same. Family friendly on the outside, but secretly attempting to plant illegal unconscionable items in contracts that silence the truth and stop the employee/customer from asserting basic constitutional rights. As we will explain through detailed examples which we will roll out in detail one by one, Disney’s model is very clear and a repetitive illegal pattern. Once it gets challenged or exposed, the gaslighting and redirection of the blame toward anyone willing to tell the truth starts through an international well oiled publicity machine. The problem for Disney is that when they go up against someone who has concrete evidence of this happening over 100 times, many of which have led to them settling hundreds of cases if not thousands to try and continue to control critics, employees and even lawyers who sue them. The problem for them is that I have the evidence and clients willing to be truthful and they know it. These are actually facts not argument or conjecture. Over the next few months, with the brave help of those who have been illegally silenced, retaliated for simply telling the truth and then destroyed for it, one by one this bullying and illegal conduct will be exposed to the government. Beau DeMayo wants nothing from Marvel/Disney except the truth. He will bravely tell the truth. So will I. Stand by.
