The creator and former executive producer of X-Men ’97, Beau DeMayoaccused on Thursday Marvel to remove his writing credits for the second season in response to a “X-Men” fan art related to “gay pride” which he posted on social media in June. DeMayo called it “the latest in a troubling pattern” he says he experienced while working for Marvel.
In a statement, Marvel said DeMayo was fired after an unspecified internal investigation uncovered “egregious” conduct..
“Mr. DeMayo was terminated in March 2024 following an internal investigation,” a Marvel spokesperson said in a statement. “Given the outrageous nature of the findings, we severed ties with him immediately and he no longer has any affiliation with Marvel,” the company said.
No further details were given, but TheWrap reported a person with knowledge of the situation said DeMayo was investigated for sexual misconduct and that his writing credits were removed after repeated violations of a termination agreement between him and Disney.
DeMayo was fired before the “X-Men ’97” series premiered in March. His dismissal came after he finished writing the second season of the series, but the reason remains unknown.
In his statement Thursday, posted as a thread on X, DeMayo first acknowledged how much fun it was to bring the show to life. “First and foremost, I am so grateful to have worked on #XMen97, collaborating with incredibly talented people,” he wrote. “Creating this revival was a dream come true and the support that fans have shown is so heartwarming. However, I felt it was urgent to speak out after leaving the show…”
“Above is the #XMen fan art I posted on Instagram for Gay Pride in June. On June 13th, #Marvel sent me a letter notifying me that they had removed my credits for season 2 due to the post. Sadly, this is the latest in a disturbing pattern I experienced while working on #XMen97 and #Blade.”
“I’ll have more to say soon, but I need to step away from social media for a bit to find a safer space where I can express myself, be proud, and be a nerd. Stay tuned,” DeMayo concluded.
The screenwriter of “What If…?”, Matthew Chaunceywas hired in July to take over writing duties for the show’s third season.
What is X-Men ’97 about?
“X-Men ’97” continues the classic 1990s animated series, with several cast members from “X-Men: The Animated Series” returning, some in their original roles and others in new ones. Original series producers Larry Houston and Eric and Julia Lewald remain as consulting producers.
Returning cast members include Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, George Buza, Adrian Hough, Christopher Britton, Catherine Disher, Chris Potter, Alison Sealy-Smith and Alyson Court. New cast members include Jennifer Hale, Anniwaa Buachie, Ray Chase, Matthew Waterson, JP Karliak, Holly Chou, Jeff Bennett and AJ LoCascio.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
