Marvel director Taika Waititi has come under fire for resurfaced anti-trans tweets and for naming Caitlyn Jenner dead after branding herself a “gay icon”.
His name started trending on Twitter this week after it was revealed he and singer Rita Ora had married, but for all the wrong reasons.
Unearthed tweets from almost a decade ago have been criticized for shaming trans women and beauty pageant contestants.
Not cool! Marvel’s Taika Waititi has come under fire for resurfaced anti-trans tweets and naming Caitlyn Jenner dead after branding herself a “gay icon” (pictured in June).
Mistake: Deadnaming is when someone refers to a transgender or non-binary person by a name they used before the transition, e.g. B. her birth name – (pictured Caitlyn Jenner)
A January 16, 2013 tweet read: “No disrespect to men who choose to dress as women. I should have just said that her makeup looks manly. Also no disrespect towards meth users.’
The “meth user” comment followed an earlier tirade in which he criticized beauty pageant contestants, writing, “Combining heels and a bikini while gluing your face in orange so you look like leather pudding is dead empowering.”
He was called out when another Twitter user @carocreature wrote: “Slut-shaming, transphobia and immense misogyny all in one tweet. But dude, not cool.’
Taika wrote back: ‘No, it’s cool.’
Historical: Taika was criticized for a transphobic tweet on January 16, 2013
It’s not cool: He was called out by another Twitter user, leading to a contentious exchange
Caro wrote: “No Taika, that’s not cool. You must apologize. My trans friends, who struggle with suicide every day because of similar comments, find it hard to believe.”
Taika replies, “My trans friends can walk in heels. but you’re right, actual kathoey look better.’
“Kathoey” is a word used for trans women in Thailand.
An April 2015 tweet named Caitlyn Jenner just days after she came out as a trans woman.
Deadnaming is when someone refers to a transgender or non-binary person by a name they used before the transition, e.g. B. their birth name.
Taika wrote: “We will all wear #JeSuis[Caitlyn]Jenner badges by Monday.’
The posts may not reflect Taika’s current thinking and Web has reached out to a spokesperson for him to comment.
Viral: Taika’s name was trending after he married singer Rita Ora, but for all the wrong reasons (pictured together in March)
Taika is now known for his LGBTQ+ storytelling on both Thor: Love And Thunder and the HBO Max series Our Flag Means Death.
And speaking about his reasons for doing so, he told Out in July: “We’re all queer. Just to varying degrees where we are [sexuality] spectrum I think. I think all human beings have a certain amount of weirdness inherent in them.’
Considered a gay icon by some, he said: “I love it. I mean, I’m just amazed to hear what my friends think of me. I’m going to say, “Hey guys, you’re looking at a little gay icon here,” and it feels really great.”
In Thor, Taika voices a gay character named Korg.
Fans had wondered how Korg’s all-male species could be gay because the plot doesn’t seem to align with his family background in a previous film.
In the fourth film, Korg has two fathers, but in the 2017 film, Thor Ragnarok, his mother is mentioned.
Then later in the movie. Korg was seen happily dating a male character with whom he shares a baby Kronan – confirming his character is gay.
Forward: In Thor, Taika voices a gay character named Korg — he also directs the film and later dubbed himself a “gay icon” with the words “we’re all queer.”
Thor: Love And Thunder tells the story of how Thor enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg, and his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster to fight Gorr the God Butcher, who intends to wipe out the gods.
The latest film features a scene with Korg (voiced by Taika) explaining to Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) that baby Kronans are created with a special “handshake” after revealing that he was also raised by two fathers.
And while it’s possible to trace more than two people as birth parents, fans took to Twiitter to say they wanted clarification on Korg’s backstory.
Discoveries: Fans also noted that Tessa Thompson’s character Valkyrie (left) also appears to be gay
They wrote: “I can’t be the only one confused because Korg’s species is gay because in Ragnorak Korg says he was kicked out of his mother’s and boyfriend’s house and then goes on to talk about his fathers. #ThorLoverAndThunder.”
“The only gay thing about it was Val kissing that woman’s hand, and this whole Korg thing about his species being all male, how come he says in Thor Ragnarok he has sisters na mum?” [sic].
“This is the second Marvel film I didn’t go to the cinema for. Korg said he had a mother and father in Ragnorok. Now I hear his race is a bunch of men giving birth. What? Why does everyone have to be gay? Done with Marvel.’
Clarification Request: Fans were confused that Korg now has two fathers when a previous film mentioned his mother
“Thor was interesting. I didn’t understand making Korg gay, but whatever. Cool film through and through.’
Despite the confusion, many people took to social media to say they loved the fact that Korg is gay.
They also noticed subtle hints that Val also appeared to be a gay character.
They wrote: “Taika Waititi is outstanding. Outrageously cool villain, sweet tone, solid warm heart, happy Korg and a lovely ending.
High Time: Many people praised the film for matching the fan-favourite’s sexuality
“Not groundbreaking, wasted potential with the City of the Gods, formulaic, but still in the upper echelons of Marvel films. P good!
“So I looked at the new Thor. I have to say I appreciate the representation. That Valkyrie is gay makes my heart swoon.
“Axel is the best boy and anyone who says his dead name gets the pillbox. Congratulations Korg on his beautiful marriage to his husband: Dwayne. Brilliant.’
Icons: Tessa Thompson, Taika and Natalie Portman attend the UK Gala Screening of Thor: Love And Thunder on July 5, 2022 in London