X-Men ’97 Creator’s Lawyer Responds to Disney Firing

The lawyer for former X-Men ’97 showrunner Beau DeMayo has issued a statement following Disney’s decision to remove his credits from Season 2. DeMayo was dismissed from X-Men ’97 just before the animated series premiered on Disney+, with no official explanation provided for the removal.

While DeMayo has mostly stayed quiet on the matter, sharing occasional social media posts about X-Men ’97 episodes and the favorable reception from fans, he recently alleged that his credits were stripped after he shared fan art of himself as a shirtless Cyclops during Gay Pride Month in June. Disney’s response was that DeMayo was “terminated in March 2024 following an internal investigation.”

Responding to the misconduct allegations, DeMayo’s lawyer Bryan Freedman of Freedman Taitelman + Cooley issued a statement refuting Disney’s claims. “Having much experience with Disney, the playbook is always the same,” Freedman said in a statement to Variety. “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 further explained Disney’s alleged tactics with a detailed statement outlining the pattern he claims is present in their operations, including illegal contractual elements meant to silence truth-tellers.

He stated, “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,” Freedman continued. “Over the next few months, with the brave help of those who have been illegally silenced, retaliated against 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.”

DeMayo’s dispute with Disney highlights growing tensions between creative talents and major entertainment studios, especially regarding how misconduct allegations are handled and the treatment of employees who challenge company practices. As more details emerge in the coming months, the situation is likely to draw significant attention both from the public and potentially legal authorities.

The controversy surrounding DeMayo and Disney serves as a reminder of the complex and often contentious relationships within the entertainment industry. For fans of X-Men ’97, it might cast a shadow on their enjoyment of the series, raising questions about the dynamics behind the scenes.

As developments unfold, the eyes of the industry and fans alike will undoubtedly remain fixed on this evolving story. DeMayo’s case could potentially set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in the future, particularly concerning the rights of creative professionals and the responsibilities of large corporations.