Aquaman director James Wan is asking his fans not to harass those who aren’t keen on his work, and vice versa. The latest installment of the DCEU hit theaters this month. Wan’s Aquaman succeeded in winning over some new fans for the Atlantean hero. But some continue to criticize the film, finding fault in the genre, the film itself, or just struggling to root for a guy who controls fish. Whatever the reason, no film can please everybody. But some fans have taken it upon themselves to defend the movie, going so far as to bully critics.

After years of jokes, Aquaman has at long last gained some respect as a superhero. This is thanks largely due to Jason Mamoa who completely reshaped the hero’s image. While the film is far from perfect, the response was largely positive. Critics found Aquaman to be a fun and silly ride, even if it was overstuffed and somewhat hard to follow. Financially, the movie was a success. A recent prediction stated the film is set to make $1 billion worldwide. So far the movie has made $748.8 million worldwide, meaning Aquaman surpassed Suicide Squad to become the third highest grossing film of the DCEU. So things are looking good for the king of Atlantis.

The internet, unsurprising, is a different matter. Fans and detractors have taken to social media to express their feelings. Rather than acknowledge that people can have differing opinions, those for and against Aquaman have taken to harassing each other. Wan has now entered the debate, taking to Twitter to ask his fans and his haters to be respectful of the other side. To his fans he informs them, “Not the kind of support I want.”

Fandoms turning toxic is nothing new. It’s also no longer surprising. The best example of such behavior comes from the Star Wars fanbase. Earlier this year, Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best revealed he became suicidal following all the hate he received from franchise fans. Racism drove actress Kelly Marie Tran off social media following The Last Jedi. Director Rian Johnson would speak out against the negativity, and the effect it had on him.

Ending online harassment isn’t going to happen any time soon. But people with sway are doing their part to combat it. There’s a bit of irony in a handful of the responses to Wan’s tweet, with followers arguing him about his opinion. Most responses were positive, however, with fans agreeing the fighting has to stop. Hopefully, fans and haters can learn one thing from Wan’s Aquaman, that it’s better to respect one another’s differences, opinion or otherwise.

More: After Aquaman, The Next DC Movies Are All 6 Months Or Less Apart

Source: James Wan

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