James Gunn – who directed the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films – was recently fired from the franchise after several controversial tweets by the filmmaker were resurfaced by right-wing activists.

Almost 10 years old, the tweets include crude jokes about paedophilia and rape.

“The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James’ Twitter feed are indefensible and inconsistent with our studio’s values, and we have severed our business relationship with him,” said Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn in a statement to Entertainment Tonight.

Gunn later released a statement of his own, which read: “My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative. I have regretted them for many years since – not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don’t reflect the person I am today or have been for some time.”

The director continued: “Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then. All I can do now, beyond offering my sincere and heartfelt regret, is to be the best human being I can be: accepting, understanding, committed to equality, and far more thoughtful about my public statements and my obligations to our public discourse.

“To everyone inside my industry and beyond, I again offer my deepest apologies. Love to all.”

Zoe Saldana has responded to the James Gunn Twitter controversy