Beau DeMayo, who helmed X-Men ’97, opens up about his Marvel exit by releasing an exclusive video explaining his perspective on the accusations that led to his firing. On February 6, 2025, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool creator Rob Liefeld revealed he’s quitting Marvel, alleging that he wasn’t invited to the afterparty of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine New York premiere, and that Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige ignored him at the red carpet event. Liefeld also criticized Marvel’s method of crediting comic book creators, which is usually limited to a “special thanks” line in each project’s opening or closing credits.

Just one day later, X-Men ’97 Beau DeMayo released a video discussing his own disputes with Marvel, which led to his exit shortly after his animated Marvel show was released. The X-Men ’97 showrunner had previously shared updates about this process on his OnlyFans account. Now, Beau DeMayo shares his thoughts on his YouTube account. DeMayo’s 30-minute video covers many details. Check out an excerpt and watch the full video below:

“The offenses Marvel and others have leaked are designed to distract you from what really offended them. That someone like me dared to speak truth to people like them. They wanted me to be the Black stamp of approval on this project, I declined. They tried to erase aspects of my personality that clashed or proved inconvenient with the misguided narratives they wanted to establish, I declined. They tried to intimidate me with explicit and implied threats, I was not intimidated. Everything they have done since then has been designed not just to silence me and smear me, but to crush me, and to remind me to know my role. So what’s next then? Honestly, it is so tempting to just drop all the names and receipts that I have online.”

What Beau DeMayo Releasing His Marvel And Disney Video Means

Beau DeMayo Denounces Unfair Accusations And Discrimination

X-Men ’97‘s Beau DeMayo recalls multiple negative experiences during his time at Marvel, alleging discriminatory comments by execs, dismissed complaints about poor working conditions, and blacklisting, among others. After his exit from Marvel, DeMayo continued to talk about his work on X-Men ’97, but the exact details about his firing and his strained relationship with the studio hadn’t been revealed. DeMayo went on to update his followers on his OnlyFans profile, and released a video summarizing his disputes with the studio. Around five months later, DeMayo has chosen to release the video to the public.

DeMayo’s decision to discuss his accusations publicly seems to have been inspired, at least in part, by Rob Liefeld’s announcement of his Marvel exit and his complaints about artist treatment. Following Liefeld and DeMayo’s accusations, Marvel will probably issue a statement soon. If the two artists wish to take their complaints to a higher instance, it’s possible that legal action could be started or resumed.

Our Take On Beau DeMayo Releasing His Marvel And Disney Video

Beau DeMayo’s Accusations Are A Delicate Matter

Beau DeMayo and Rob Liefeld’s complaints have received online support, but they have also been criticized, as both artists have been the center of previous controversies. Liefeld has come under fire for previous criticism towards Marvel and fellow comic book artists, plus allegations of plagiarism. Meanwhile, DeMayo was fired from Marvel after X-Men ’97 under accusations of “egregious misconduct” (via Variety) and anonymous sources claim DeMayo was fired from Netflix’s The Witcher for similar grounds (via Vulture). Both artists address wider known issues such as inappropriate author credit and unrealistic ᴅᴇᴀᴅlines. However, the exact details of DeMayo and Liefeld’s personal experiences can only be confirmed by exhaustive investigations into their specific disputes with the company.

Source: Beau DeMayo / YouTube