The attorney representing Beau DeMayo, the creator of “X-Men ’97,” has responded to Disney’s claims that DeMayo was fired due to misconduct allegations. Bryan Freedman, of Freedman Taitelman + Cooley, criticized Disney’s practices, stating, “Having much experience with Disney, the playbook is always the same. 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.”
This statement follows Disney’s notification regarding DeMayo’s termination and the removal of his credits for the second season of the animated series. DeMayo had earlier claimed on social media that these actions were linked to his posts supporting gay pride made in June.
Disney countered this by asserting that an investigation revealed “egregious” misconduct on DeMayo’s part during his tenure, although specifics were not disclosed. According to a source, the misconduct was related to sexual issues and repeated breaches of his separation agreement led to the revocation of his credits for the upcoming season.
Freedman’s statement further emphasized a pattern of behavior by Disney, suggesting that when challenged, the company resorts to gaslighting and shifting blame. He claimed to have a wealth of evidence and clients ready to support the truth, stating, “Beau DeMayo wants nothing from Marvel/Disney except the truth. He will bravely tell the truth. So will I. Stand by.”
DeMayo was dismissed in March, just prior to the series’ premiere on Disney+. He had already completed his work on both the first and second seasons, which has received acclaim and an Emmy nomination for best animated program.