Petitions signed asking Disney to rehire James Gunn

Los Angeles: Thousands have signed an online petition asking Walt Disney Co to rehire Guardians of the Galaxy writer-director James Gunn, who was fired from the threequel.

The development came a day after a series of old offensive tweets made by the filmmaker resurfaced on social media.

In the old tweets, screenshots of which are available online, Gunn cracked crude jokes dealing with pedophilia and rape.

The petition, titled 'RE-HIRE JAMES GUNN' on website change.org was started by a Chandler Edwards, has gained over 30,000 signatures in Gunn's support.

Edwards writes he agrees that the studio had "full right" to sack the director but the argument does not hold water as Gunn was not working for Disney when he had shared those tweets.

"I agree on the point that if people say a bunch of stupid shit while working for a studio, the studio has full right to fire him over the possible controversy."

"But this is different though as he made these jokes years before he was working for Disney and also the fact that they were jokes."

Fellow director Joe Carnahan also shared the petition on Twitter.

After being sacked, Gunn, issued an apology on Twitter and claimed that he has changed over the years.

"It's not to say I'm better, but I am different than I was a few years ago; I try to root my work in love and connection. My days of reacting on issues and trying to get a reaction are over now," he said.