X-MEN ’97 Head Writer Departs Twitter Following Backlash Over Sunspot “Whitewashing” Casting

Despite doing a commendable job of keeping fans updated about X-Men ’97‘s status on social media, Toonado.com reveals that Head Writer Beau DeMayo has decided to leave the platform following a tense few days. 

Earlier this week, we learned that Brazilian actor Gui Agustini will lend his voice to Roberto da Costa/Sunspot in the X-Men: The Animated Series follow-up. However, the character has long been the subject of whitewashing claims, first in The New Mutants live-action movie and now in X-Men ’97. 

Sunspot, who is typically darker-skinned on the page, being portrayed by Agustini didn’t sit well with some, while others feel his skin tone in the show itself is too light for an Afro-Brazilian. 

Initially, DeMayo responded by saying, “I will not indulge fans believing that they are entitled to be the arbiter of someone else’s identity, and whether or not they are ‘this’ or ‘that’ enough…At the proper time, there’ll be plenty of insights into what decisions we made and why. When Marvel gives me the go, I will be very frank and transparent.”

That did little to calm things down, hence why the writer eventually decided to take a break from social media. 

“I value fan’s opinions but the sheer amount of vitriol in the last 24-hours is truly taxing, and actually risks working against what you’re trying to do as it’s now closed off an access point because I have to protect myself,” he stated before detailing some of the attacks he’s endured in recent days (including being labelled a “race traitor”). 

You can read both his statements in their entirety in the Tweets below, but this feels like another blow to a series that’s seemingly fallen by the wayside since it was first announced. 

Despite merchandise and various leaks finding their way online, Marvel Studios hasn’t started promoting X-Men ’97, leaving DeMayo to single-handedly debunk some of those and share what little he can with fans. Now, that’s led to a pretty unpleasant situation which the studio is currently staying silent about. 

We’ll keep you updated as and when we learn more.