Acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron has publicly criticised a decade-old joke made at his expense by comedian Amy Poehler at the Golden Globes, labelling the remark "ignorant" and asserting that it crossed a line.
A joke that 'went too far'
In a new interview with The New York Times, the 71-year-old director of Titanic and the Avatar franchise addressed Poehler's quip from the 2013 awards ceremony. The joke was made while Poehler was co-hosting and referenced the controversy surrounding torture scenes in Zero Dark Thirty, a film directed by Cameron's ex-wife, Kathryn Bigelow.
"When it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron," Poehler said at the time.
Cameron, who was married to Bigelow from 1989 to 1991, expressed his disappointment not only with the joke itself but with the reaction from his Hollywood peers. "Amy Poehler’s remark was an ignorant dig at an event which is supposed to be a celebration of cinema and filmmakers, not a roast," he stated.
He continued, "I’m pretty thick-skinned and happy to be the butt of a good-natured joke, but that went too far. The fact that people found it funny shows exactly what they think of me, even though they have no idea who I am or how I work."
The reputation of a perfectionist
The joke played upon Cameron's long-standing reputation in the industry as a demanding and exacting perfectionist. Actors who have worked with him have occasionally fuelled this image. Titanic star Kate Winslet once said he had "a temper like you wouldn't believe", while Sam Worthington, the lead in Avatar, claimed Cameron would nail a ringing mobile phone to the wall with a nailgun.
Cameron has previously addressed these anecdotes, telling The Independent in 2013 that such actions would be "calculated" and theatrical rather than born of genuine rage. He argued that his passion for the work is often misinterpreted and pointed to the loyalty of collaborators who return for multiple projects as proof he "can't be that bad".
Winslet herself is a prime example, having reunited with Cameron for both Avatar: The Way of Water and the latest sequel, Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is currently in cinemas.
Evolution and legacy
The director conceded that in his earlier career, he may have played up to a certain archetype. "I think when you couple that with the short temper that I had because of the short budgets that I had in my earlier productions," he admitted, he might have been "difficult".
However, Cameron insists his character has "evolved" and that "there's no room for that kind of behaviour" now. His professional achievements are undeniable; three of his films—Titanic, Avatar, and Avatar: The Way of Water—are among the top five highest-grossing films of all time.
He also reflected on the 2009 Oscars, where he and Bigelow were both nominated for Best Director. Cameron revealed he was concerned the "meta-narrative" about their past marriage would detract from Bigelow's credibility. When she won for The Hurt Locker, he said he was "the first one" on his feet to applaud.
The Independent has contacted Amy Poehler for comment.
