Jeremy Renner is still part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite years-old claims from his ex-wife that he threatened to kill her and himself.
The actor sat down with The Breakfast Club, where Charlamagne Tha God asked why Marvel cut Renner slack but was “quick to discard” Jonathan Majors after he was convicted of assault in 2023.
“I don’t know. I don't know what's the difference between gossip and then the difference between anything else. I don't know enough about Jonathan and his situation to know,” Renner, who plays Hawkeye in the MCU, told the hosts at around the 26:15 minute mark.
“I know they had big plans for that character. That's for sure,” he said of Majors’ Kang the Conqueror role. “So, whatever had transpired…that sucks. I think due diligence really has to be played out. So, I don't know enough information to know.”
When Charlamagne pointed out that it wasn’t “fair” that Majors got the boot, Renner appeared to agree.
“I think there's a bigger kind of scope to that…the idea of public opinion becoming part of a court process,” Renner explained. “It's like, well, how about law and all that? When did public opinion become more valuable than the actual truth? … We've had that for a while…with media and social media and all that connectivity.”
Renner added, “I think it's pretty dangerous, all the cancel culture and all that sort of stuff. It's like, ‘Wow, man, that just makes me want to run and hide.’ Why put yourself out there and do anything for anybody at all?”
“Anybody can say anything,” Charlamagne replied, to which Renner said, “They can. And that's so silly.”
Marvel dropped Majors from the MCU after he was convicted of one count of reckless assault in the 3rd degree and a charge of harassment as a violation in December 2023. The case originally began in March 2023, when his ex, Grace Jabbari, sued him for defamation, assault, and battery.
As for the Renner’s scandal: back in 2019, his ex-wife, Sonni Pacheco, claimed during their custody battle that he threatened to kill her and himself. Renner denied her accusations.
"The well-being of his daughter Ava has always been and continues to be the primary focus for Jeremy," the rep told TMZ. "This is a matter for the court to decide. It's important to note the dramatizations made in Sonni's declaration are a one-sided account made with a specific goal in mind."
Denzel Washington feels similarly about cancel culture. Over the summer, during a conversation with Complex, the lauded actor was asked whether he cared about being canceled. Simply put: he doesn’t.
"Who cares? What made public support so important to begin with? You can’t lead and follow at the same time, and you can’t follow and lead at the same time." Washington added, "You can’t be canceled if you haven’t signed up. Don’t sign up."