Spider-Man continues to be a hot topic among MCU fans ever since Spider-Man: No Way Home’s billion-dollar box office success and news of the blockbuster’s extended version re-releasing this September has only catapulted its popularity. But one such fan-initiative project, Spider-Man: Lotus, which gained praises for its trailer from even director Jon Watts seems to have flown too close to the sun as it faces massive backlash due to allegations of racist remarks by the film’s lead actor Wayne Warden and director Gavin Konop.
Spider-Man: Lotus is a Marvel non-profit fan film not associated with Sony or Marvel Studios. The fan project gained huge support, raising money in February 2021 and was scheduled to release in 2022. But it’s currently trapped in an embroiling controversy that began when a series of screenshots surfaced on Twitter of Wayne’s message in a group chat using racist remarks. The actor quickly acknowledged his actions and released a statement via tweets stating he decided to “come forward honestly about mistakes I made when I was younger.”
I’ve been wanting to come forward about this for a long time. Please read. pic.twitter.com/kz42egpAs5
— Warden Wayne (@mrwardenwayne) June 19, 2022
From photoshopped screenshots of me saying outrageous things, to screenshots of things that old admins had sent from my account several years ago, to actual old messages that do need to be addressed, to an entire situation that needs to be addressed all on its own, I’m in a bit…
— GJK 🪷 (@gjkcentral) June 20, 2022
It is my moral instinct to remove myself from Spider-Man: Lotus, effective immediately. I am sickened to sever my career after seeing the trending tragedy. I was never aware of Warden & Gavin’s history prior to today, so I am grieving on behalf of all of you.
– Moriah Brooklyn— Moriah Brooklyn (@mjbrooklyn) June 21, 2022
The full statement can be found below though coming clean hasn’t helped as new allegations that director and writer Konop also used racial slurs in the past. The controversial remark has become a Pop Culture moment of its own with fans reacting with memes as Spider-Man: Lotus still trends on Twitter. Readers can check it out below.
The downfall of Spider-Man Lotus needs to be studied in history books.
— Danny™️ (@DamnedDoorMat) June 20, 2022
today, the actors who played Spider-Man and Green Goblin in a fanfilm got exposed, then the director got exposed, then clips and script got leaked, then we find a whole ass 15 y/o syndrome who was responsible for it, and this mf was planting the seeds since he was 9.
What a day. https://t.co/hlOKWc9Wc9
— brenton (@dcuverse) June 20, 2022
POV: You walk onto the set of Spider-Man Lotus pic.twitter.com/mCYcUdVFJd
— Karb💥 (Lego Star Wars arc) (@Karbify) June 20, 2022
Peter Parker during the end credits scene of Spider-Man Lotus when he meets Miles Morales pic.twitter.com/SF0sym2eLv
— Selina (@ECNALHANID) June 19, 2022
The person leaking everything from Spider-Man Lotus is joining these two in the greatest hater triad pic.twitter.com/jujXCcTlvK
— Walt (@Uber_Kryptonian) June 20, 2022
Racist Spiderman Meeting Racist Green Goblin In Spiderman Lotus pic.twitter.com/MeisXGXJGn
— Toxic⚡ (@ProfessorJFett) June 20, 2022
Spider-Man: Lotus crew members be like pic.twitter.com/ARC6ZGNZBr
— Marc (@MarAbh999) June 20, 2022
Spider-Man Lotus Green Goblin pic.twitter.com/coqLdxIvsQ
— The Saucerer Supreme (@jabaery) June 20, 2022
Lotus Spider-Man's uncle Ben pic.twitter.com/I3sX90cXP0
— alkhan™️🐿 (@_Mrpinkman_) June 20, 2022
I got banned so fast from the Spider-man Lotus Discord for posting this💀 pic.twitter.com/uzHxbBO63N
— SonicSaberYT (@SkyRaiderG7) June 20, 2022
Spider-Man Lotus Crew in a nutshell pic.twitter.com/kSW9cvH3VP
— MaximumOverdrive | USM ERA | ACAB | BLM (@BrightestN0VA) June 20, 2022
Green Goblin when he meets Miles pic.twitter.com/sY5gwcGW51
— Private Spidey (@PrivateSpidey) June 21, 2022
this spider-man: lotus shit is crazy pic.twitter.com/VJF6wt17Sp
— ayo it's echo ! (@echo3xo) June 21, 2022
The main actor for Spider-Man Lotus: pic.twitter.com/IvlxLFSVrJ
— KBC (@BigMeruemFan) June 20, 2022
me scrolling through twitter happily knowing I didn’t donate a single penny to be credited on Spider-Man: Lotus pic.twitter.com/rF41QkoYht
— Jack Payne (@JackP309) June 20, 2022
The rising allegations have made the rest of the cast and crew of Spider-Man: Lotus distance themselves from the film. Moriah Brooklyn, the actor who plays Mary Jane has also come forward stating she has removed herself from the project. Since then, multiple scenes from the Lotus have leaked, like Green Goblin’s first look, the menacing villains’ fight against Spidey and the whole script.
Wayne plays Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Lotus and takes place after the events of Gwen Stacy’s death. The friendly neighborhood superhero has hung up his suit but when a terminally ill child asks to see Spider-Man, Peter is stuck with a difficult decision. The trailer also showed Green Goblin as an existing threat that Peter must face.
