A lawyer representing former Marvel Studio executive Victoria Alonso, who was fired earlier this week from the Walt Disney Co.-owned superhero giant, is responding to reports that she was ousted for an Oscar-nominated film she produced.
the hollywood reporter on Friday published a story citing unnamed sources who said Alonso was fired for violating a 2018 employment contract by doing press to promote the film “Argentina, 1985,” which was released by Amazon Studios in the US.
The film was nominated for an Oscar for International Feature Film this year. Alonso was one of multiple producers on the project.
Disney has not commented on the firing.
Alonso’s lawyer, Hollywood powerhouse Patty Glaser, slammed the emerging narrative as “absolutely ridiculous” in an emailed statement to The Times.
“The idea that Victoria was fired for a handful of press interviews related to a personal passion project about human rights and democracy that was nominated for an Oscar and got Disney’s blessing to work on is absolutely ridiculous.” Glaser said.
“Victoria, a gay Latina who had the courage to criticize Disney, was silenced,” Glaser’s statement continued, referring to Alonso’s criticism of former Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s weak response to the so-called education bill. Don’t say Florida gay.
Glaser said Alonso “was fired when she refused to do something she thought was wrong,” without elaborating.
“Disney and Marvel made a really bad decision that will have dire consequences,” the statement concluded. “There is much more to this story and Victoria will tell it shortly, in one forum or another.”
This is a developing story.