Justice League: Zack Snyder Denies Toxicity In His Fandom

After a long wait, Zack Snyder's Justice League will finally debut on HBO Max this March, and it's no surprise that it wasn't an easy path for Snyder and his loyal fanbase. Ever since the dismal showing of 2017's Justice League in theaters, fans rallied behind the visionary director by creating their own grassroots campaign to grab the attention of Warner Bros in the form of #ReleaseTheSnyderCut. 

Through two and a half years, the movement had its fair share of ups and downs, but the consistent part of all of it was the support of Snyder. The director joined the cause by revealing tidbits about his version of Justice League, revealing never-before-seen plot points and character arcs that would've changed the film completely. 

Last May, the dream of the loyal Snyder supporters and the director himself was realized when it was officially announced that the much-talked-about director's cut received the green light to premiere on HBO Max. And the rest, as they say, was history. 

Now, Snyder has revealed his side to an intriguing topic surrounding the aforementioned campaign. 

ZACK SNYDER CALLS OUT JUSTICE LEAGUE HATERS

In a report from CinemaBlend, Sean O'Connell, the author of the Release the Snyder Cut: The Crazy True Story Behind the Fight That Saved Zack Snyder's Justice League, shared an excerpt of his conversation with Zack Snyder about claims of him having a “toxic fandom” leading up to the release of his cut. 

Snyder opened up by firmly pointing out that there are critics who are “sour grapes,” admitting that he was “held back” from confronting them: 

“I just think that’s sour grapes. There’s really no other way to say it. We know the people who were the architects of that narrative, and it’s pretty obvious what their agenda is. Those are people that I’ve been held back from confronting, by wiser people in the room. Because I’d love to get at some of these characters.”

The director also suggested that a “direct conversation” with those folks would be welcome, citing his confidence that he can “make a list” of every wrong report or claim about him and his Justice League. 

“Some direct conversation would be nice. Just to say, one, you don’t know shit about what you’re talking about. And we can break down everything they’ve ever [said]. I can make a list. There’s a few of these guys where I could just get a list of everything they’ve ever said, that they thought was right, and [I could tell them] every single thing they’ve said is wrong.”

Snyder then went to the topic of the toxic fandom, with him calling the attention of the “fakers” that tried to degrade his fanbase's efforts in the past years such as the charitable work of the movement about suicide prevention: 

“And so, in what world do you have any credibility anywhere, to anyone? I would love the opportunity to just say to the world, and to fandom in general, who these fakers are and what should be done to them, or with them. It’s just a bunch of BS. In regards to that toxic fandom, or it’s ‘a win for toxic fandom,’ again, in what world does this ‘toxic fandom’ raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for suicide prevention? How is that toxic fandom? They’ve probably achieved more than any other fan base, [and done more] good than any other group. So I don’t understand.”

NO NEGATIVITY IN THE SNYDER CUT FANDOM

As it is, Snyder's comments are a prime example of why the Snyder Cut movement managed to stay strong over the years. The director's overwhelming support toward his fans has been apparent ever since his career began, and this was further amplified throughout the film's campaign. 

It isn't surprising that there were detractors of Snyder's vision ever since the DCEU was launched in 2013. It even became a major topic of discussion among fans, ultimately leading to a divisive battle that made everyone pick sides. 

Social media has been an integral part of the toxic nature of fans, considering that the viewing public is allowed to voice their opinions freely online. On top of that, toxicity within movie franchises, superheroes, in particular, is admittedly a common theme. 

Still, this doesn't discount the narrative surrounding the Snyder Cut, and Snyder made sure to pinpoint the issues directly before it got out of hand. It's fascinating to see that Snyder is handling this ordeal with ease but with a certain bravado, especially after the stockpile of reports that devalued his Justice League over the years. 

It's also good that Snyder brought up the charitable efforts of the fanbase, considering that it was simply being overlooked by outside forces. This should serve as a reminder that the campaign was more than just social media blasts and billboards. 

Whatever the haters are saying, the imminent arrival of Zack Snyder's Justice League is notable on its own, capping off an incredible journey that changed the lives of many.