Marvel Fires Back Over ‘X-Men ’97’ Creator’s Claim He Was “Stripped” of Season 2 Credit, Cites “Egregious” Investigation Findings (Exclusive)

Marvel Fires Back Over ‘X-Men ’97’ Creator’s Claim He Was “Stripped” of Season 2 Credit, Cites “Egregious” Investigation Findings (Exclusive)

As a gamer who has followed the intriguing world of Marvel Studios for years, I find myself deeply troubled by the recent developments surrounding Beau DeMayo, the creative mind behind X-Men ’97. Having admired his work and the unique perspectives he brought to the table, it’s disheartening to see such a talented individual embroiled in controversy.


Five months following the unexpected termination of Beau DeMayo, the creator of X-Men ’97, by Marvel Studios, DeMayo announced yesterday that he will not receive credit for the second season of the popular Disney+ series, which he had completed prior to his departure. DeMayo expressed this on social media, stating it was a part of an unsettling trend he encountered while working with Marvel.

Marvel swiftly responded shortly thereafter, providing comments to The Hollywood Reporter about his termination. He explained that the decision was made following an internal inquiry which uncovered “severely problematic” information.

“I recently shared a fan art of the X-Men on Instagram for Pride Month, and Marvel responded by removing my credit for Season 2 because of that post. I expressed this in a post on Thursday, accompanied by an image portraying me, in a shirtless depiction, as Cyclops,” DeMayo wrote on June 17th.

DeMayo, who spent several years with Marvel, working on drafts for Blade and also on Moon Knight TV series, commented: “Unfortunately, this continues the concerning trend I encountered during my time on X-Men ’97 and Blade.”

Marvel explained that DeMayo’s actions led to both his termination and loss of credits.

In March 2024, I found myself parting ways with Marvel after a thorough internal examination. The conclusions were severe enough that our professional relationship was terminated on the spot, and I no longer have any connection to Marvel moving forward.

As a passionate fan, I’ve learned from various reports that after his departure, there seemed to be an understanding between the parties regarding my occasional tweets about the show – DeMayo had been doing this too. However, due to some breaches, my credit for season two was taken away. Regrettably, specifics about what led to the termination or internal investigations remain undisclosed. Rumors suggest that it may have involved allegations of sexual misconduct.

DeMayo did not immediately return a request for comment.

During his time at Marvel, DeMayo was actively engaged on social media platforms, frequently posting X-Men related trivia alongside pictures of himself without a shirt. Additionally, he ran an account on OnlyFans that was not explicit in nature. This behavior caught the attention of the LGBTQ publication Out, who dubbed him “the Attractive, Gay Marvel Writer & Showrunner to Keep an Eye On.”

At first glance, it might seem implausible that Marvel would deprive DeMayo of credit over a social media post, given that his Gay Pride illustration resembles many he created while working at Marvel. Moreover, Victoria Alonso, who was fired from Marvel in 2023, still received credit on projects she had previously worked on. However, the disclosure of an internal investigation suggests there may be underlying reasons.

Despite the controversy surrounding DeMayo’s dismissal, ‘X-Men ’97’ managed to captivate both audiences and critics, achieving a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This success even garnered DeMayo an Emmy nomination for the episode titled “Remember It.” Marvel hinted at season two during D23, while opting to hire Matthew Chauncey as the scriptwriter for season three following DeMayo’s termination.

So far, DeMayo hasn’t said much about being let go by Marvel, but more recently, he mentioned an attempt he made – unsuccessfully – to get a nomination for the Emmys from the studio.

Concluded DeMayo in his X post on Thursday: “I’ll have more to say soon but must take a step back from social media to find a safer space for me to be out, proud, and nerdy. Stay tuned.”

I’m absolutely thrilled to have been part of #XMen97, working alongside an incredibly gifted team. Bringing this revival to life was a long-cherished dream, and the outpouring of support from fans has been heartwarming. Yet, I felt it necessary to express my thoughts after departing the project…

— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) August 16, 2024

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2024-08-16 06:55