X-Men ‘97creator Beau DeMayo is fighting back against Disney andMarvelStudios after being fired from the series earlier in 2024. ThroughX-Men ‘97, 2024 marked the year of the return ofX-Men: The Animated Series, one of the most beloved Marvel properties of all time. However, while the sequel series found quick success, troubles behind the scenes have emerged throughout the year, with multiple reports surrounding the firing of DeMayo, who was the showrunner for season 1 and the forthcomingX-Men ‘97season 2.
In a new 30-minute video on DeMayo’s OnlyFans account (viaVarietyandDeadline), the formerX-Men ‘97showrunner is accusing Marvel Studios and Disney of misconduct followingmultiple accusations about his behavior while working on the Marvel animated series and the Mahershala AliBlademovie. In DeMayo’s statement, the creator slammed the studios for how they treated him, stating the following:
The rumors being spread around me online are lies, and they are offensive, but more concerning is that they’re a smear campaign designed to discredit my credibility in order to cover up the egregious prejudicial misconduct stretching from select crew members onX-Men ’97, all the way all the way to the top at Marvel Studios.
Beau DeMayo’s Marvel Firing Explained
DeMayo & Marvel Have Conflicting Accounts
After Marvel Studios let go of DeMayo in March 2024, it wasn’t until late summer that additional reports began to reveal what had gone down between him and the executives. On August 15,The Hollywood Reporterreleased a statement from a Marvel Studios spokesperson who said,“Mr. DeMayo was terminated in March 2024 following an internal investigation.Given the egregious nature of the findings, we severed ties with him immediately, and he has no further affiliation with Marvel.“According to sources close to the trade, the investigations concluded that DeMayo had been fired due to sexual misconduct.
That same week, DeMayo claimed through his X (formerly known as Twitter) account that he was fired for sharing fan art of himself as Cyclops during Gay Pride in June, costing him hisX-Men ‘97season 2 credits. The studios hit back, stating that it was because DeMayo had violated the terms that were made in his termination agreement at the time of his departure.DeMayo has stated on his OnlyFans account that"this is the only place you’re gonna hear the WHOLE truth,“implying that he will be making more statements about his time onX-Men ‘97andthe long-gestatingBlade.
WhetherMarvel Studios and Disneywill respond to DeMayo’s latest comments remains to be seen. However, given that DeMayo and his lawyer, Bryan Freedman, are taking this to court,it would not be shocking if Disney and Marvel Studios made a new statement very shortly. As of right now, Disney+ has not set a new premiere date forX-Men ‘97season 2, which is currently in the works.
X-Men ‘97
Cast
X-Men ‘97 is the direct continuation of the popular 1990s animated series X-Men: The Animated Series. Taking up where the third season left off, Marvel’s revival brings back famous mutants such as Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Cyclops, Beast, Magneto, and Nightcrawler, who fight villains like Mr. Sinister, the Sentinels, and the Hellfire Club.
