Former ComicsAlliance Editor Laura Hudson took to Twitter to attack Earthworm Jim creator Doug TenNapel.
Hudson describes TenNapel as an “openly transphobic troll and erstwhile Breitbart writer.” Her attack comes as TenNapel has nearly raised $600,000 for an IndieGoGo campaign for his upcoming book Earthworm Jim: Launch The Cow.
Hudson specifically took aim at TenNapel’s past comments in an interaction with Kotaku writer Heather Alexandra. In those comments Doug referred to Alexandra, who is transgender, as “good man.” TenNapel also used the pronouns “he” and “him” to refer to Alexandra. (Archive link of Tweets: https://archive.fo/LrMTr)
Listen I liked Earthw0rm Jim too but if you’re gonna thinking about funding that Kickstarter just be aware that you’re also supporting an openly transphobic troll and erstwhile Breitbart writer because people are constantly disappointing in the most unnecessary ways pic.twitter.com/y9R3rLDsHD
— Laura Hudson (@laura_hudson) July 12, 2019
Many within the corresponding thread agreed with Laura’s opinion on the matter. One user even pointed to other celebrities such as James Woods, Dean Cain, Kevin Sorbo, and Jon Voight as disappointing due to their personal and political beliefs.
Yes, that pains me everytime. James Woods, Jon Voight, Kevin Sorbo, Dean Cain and countless other people whose work I enjoy. Meh. They say never meet your heroes and Twitter allows that. However, I’ve been way more often pleased than disappointed.
— Xavier Hugonet (@XavierHugonet) July 12, 2019
This isn’t the first time TenNapel has come under fire from a “journalist.” Following the announcement of a brand new Earthworm Jim game, “journalist” Chris Scullion indicated that it would be “trickier for me to review this one if Doug is involved.” It’s an obvious insinuation that he would give the game a bad review because TenNapel is involved with the game and Scullion disagrees with his personal beliefs. In fact, Scullion admitted that if he did do a review of Earthworm Jim, he would make a point to bring up TenNapel’s personal beliefs.
Despite Hudson and Scullion’s behavior, it appears to have not really made a difference. One could even argue, it’s garnered more support for Doug TenNapel as his IndieGoGo campaign looks to become the most successful crowdfunded graphic novel of all time.