'John Wick' Fans Are Fuming Over Mel Gibson Joining the Movie's Spinoff
12/05/2021 09:50 pm EST
Contrast
First up, many commenters noted the stark contrast between Gibson's reputation and that of Reeves. They questioned the wisdom of not only casting directors but publicity agents for allowing this change of pace.
Receipts
Gibson's scandals are so numerous and spread out across so many decades that many people had trouble remembering the most egregious among them. Many users set to work posting accounts of Gibson's threats and alleged acts of violence, as well as his many racist, antisemitic and misogynistic quotes.
Cancel Culture
Many commenters used Gibson's casting to rebuke the concept of "cancel culture" itself. They said that if reputational damage alone could not keep Gibson from being cast in major productions, then there was no valid complaint to be made on the subject.
Redemption
Meanwhile, some said that even people with Gibson's history could theoretically redeem themselves, but argued that Gibson has not done so. Again, there were articles, videos and quotes to show his various public apologies, which were widely deemed insincere.
Conspiracy Theories
In the age of political disinformation, many people felt that Gibson was more at home than ever given his history of alluding to antisemitic conspiracy theories. Some even joked that this would somehow impact the John Wick franchise, which is based entirely around the idea of a secret, murderous fraternity.
Studio
Commenters said that, by casting Gibson, the studios involved in The Continental were sending an unambiguous message to the marginalized communities that Gibson has attacked which said that they are not worth considering. Others did their best to petition the studios to recast Gibson before it's too late — if it's not already.
Disappointed
Finally, there were plenty of comments from fans who were simply disappointed in the news, and either planned not to watch The Continental or anticipated enjoying it less than before. There is no release date for the series in place yet.
Disclosure: PopCulture. is owned by Paramount. Sign up for Paramount+ by clicking here.
-
6 Canceled ABC Shows We Want to Return
-
Ryan Seacrest's Ex Aubrey Paige Bashes 'Haters' Following Surprise Breakup News
-
Major CNN Anchor Quits: Everything We Know About Poppy Harlow's Exit
-
Luke James and Pam Grier Talk Portraying Darkness In 'THEM: The Scare'
-
Is This 'Wheel of Fortune' Contestant the Best Ever?