Comedian Calls Out Marvel for Replacing Jonathan Majors With Robert Downey Jr.

San Diego Comedian-Con delivered a significant shock over the weekend when Marvel introduced that Robert Downey Jr., who helped flip the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the box-office behemoth it’s at present, is returning to the MCU – this time as iconic villain Dr. Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. It’s the sort of announcement that continues to spark dialog, however it has additionally led to a different debate, no less than in some circles. Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel fold as Dr. Doom makes him the official substitute of Jonathan Majors, whose Kang the Conqueror was set to be the subsequent huge MCU villain.That fell aside when Majors’ ex-girlfriend filed assault fees towards the actor, leading to Majors being discovered responsible on two misdemeanor counts of assault and harassment. Majors was instantly dropped from the MCU following the responsible verdict, however some imagine that the optics don’t look too good contemplating that Majors was changed by Downey Jr., who has his personal felony previous.

Famend stand-up comedian Godfrey took to his Instagram page to deal with the casting problem. Whereas he admits he has love for Downey Jr. and thinks he’s a incredible actor, Godfrey calls out the truth that the Iron Man star additionally has a felony document, and says that white actors are afforded extra possibilities for redemption inside the trade. Godfrey says that Majors is “getting a uncooked deal” and questions why he can’t be forgiven in the identical approach that Downey Jr. was forgiven. Godfrey insists he doesn’t need to make it about race, however on multiple event factors out the variations in how white actors are handled on this place when in comparison with Black actors. You’ll be able to take a look at his full put up beneath.

Robert Downey Jr. and Jonathan Majors’ Instances Are Very Totally different

Downey Jr.’s previous is not any Hollywood secret. The actor struggled for years with drug habit, one thing that derailed his life and profession on many events. Along with a number of stays in rehabilitation services, Downey Jr. was arrested on multiple event for drug and gun possession. After a stint on Ally McBeal, for which he earned a Golden Globe Award, the actor was subsequently fired from the present in 2001 following extra drug fees. He was ordered to remain in a drug therapy program following the arrest, which, in his telling, turned the wake-up name he in the end wanted. Downey Jr. has maintained his sobriety since 2003.

Majors’ points arose when he was arrested in March 2023 after allegedly bodily assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. On the time, the actor’s star was steadily rising with roles in Creed 3 and Lovecraft Nation, and he was being arrange as the subsequent huge menace within the MCU; his Kang the Conqueror appeared in Season 1 of Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Majors was additionally set to look in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and its followup, Avengers: Secret Wars. Following his arrest, Majors was dropped from a number of initiatives and endorsements, and when he was in the end discovered responsible of assault and harassment, he was swiftly dropped from the MCU.

There are key variations between Downey Jr. and Majors. Drug habit is commonly thought of a illness and Downey Jr.’s crimes and points had been primarily self-inflicted; an injustice towards himself and his well-being. Majors’ crimes concerned home assault, against the law he inflicted upon another person. That’s to not say that Downey Jr.’s brushes with the regulation make him a saint in comparison with Majors, it’s simply that they’re very completely different circumstances.

Additionally, when speaking about redemption, Downey Jr.’s return to performing wasn’t easy. He was rejected from main Hollywood productions, and when he lastly landed extra high-profile gigs, he famously needed to pay his personal insurance coverage bond as a result of the studios weren’t prepared to do it. When he appeared in Gothika in 2003, producer Joel Silver withheld 40 % of Downey Jr.’s wage till the film wrapped manufacturing to make sure that his struggles had been behind him. This wasn’t an actor welcomed again with open arms. He needed to earn the place that he’s fortunate to be in now.

Majors occurred to catch a case whereas being on Marvel’s payroll. By the point Downey Jr. appeared in Iron Man in 2008, the actor’s struggles had been up to now. Had any of his points taken place whereas he was making films for Marvel, they’d have each proper to let him go, however that wasn’t the case. It has been a bit of over 20 years since Downey Jr. turned his life round. It’s successful story that needs to be lauded somewhat than used for instance of white privilege in Hollywood. There are a lot of instances the place race elements into the dialogue, however this merely isn’t considered one of them.