Acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron has publicly criticised a joke made at his expense by comedian Amy Poehler over a decade ago, labelling it "ignorant" and asserting that it crossed a line.
A Joke That 'Went Too Far'
The incident occurred at the 2013 Golden Globes ceremony. Poehler, while addressing controversy surrounding the torture scenes in Kathryn Bigelow's film Zero Dark Thirty, quipped: "When it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron." Bigelow, who was nominated that night, was married to Cameron from 1989 to 1991.
In a new interview with The New York Times, the 71-year-old director of Titanic and the Avatar franchise expressed his disappointment. "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," Cameron stated. He added, "I'm pretty thick-skinned and happy to be the butt of a good-natured joke, but that went too far."
Cameron said the audience's reaction was particularly telling. "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," he concluded. The Independent has approached Poehler for comment.
Cameron's Reputation and Response
The joke played on Cameron's long-standing reputation in Hollywood as a demanding perfectionist. Titanic star Kate Winslet has previously spoken of his "a temper like you wouldn't believe", and Avatar actor Sam Worthington once claimed Cameron would nail a ringing mobile phone to the wall.
Cameron has addressed this perception before. In a 2013 interview with The Independent, he explained his on-set behaviour was often calculated. "Would I nail a cellphone to the wall with a nailgun? Absolutely... but it doesn't mean I would be emotionally enraged. I would do it in a calculated theatrical way," he said. He argued his collaborative success disproves the worst rumours, noting, "I have people who are very loyal to me and come back project after project, so I can't be that bad."
Winslet herself is a prime example, having returned to work with him on Avatar: The Way of Water and the latest sequel, Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is currently in cinemas.
Evolution and Legacy
Cameron conceded that earlier in his career, he may have played up to a certain image. "I think when you couple that with the short temper that I had because of the short budgets... I might have been 'difficult'," he admitted. However, he insists his character has "evolved" and that "there's no room for that kind of behaviour" now.
The director also reflected on the unique dynamic when he and Bigelow were both nominated for Best Director Oscars in 2009 for Avatar and The Hurt Locker. He was concerned the focus on their past marriage would undermine Bigelow's achievement, but was the first to applaud when she won.
James Cameron's place in cinematic history is secured, with three of his films—Titanic, Avatar, and Avatar: The Way of Water—ranking among the top five highest-grossing films of all time. He has been married to Suzy Amis Cameron since 2000.
