Barry Jenkins had some words for his critics on X, formerly Twitter.
The Oscar-winning director took to the social media platform to share a teaser trailer for Disney's upcoming Lion King prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King, but the post was met with backlash from fans who criticized his decision to direct the film.
One follower replied to the Moonlight director:
“Barry, You’re too good and talented for this Iger’s soulless machine.”
Jenkins responded:
“There is nothing soulless about 'The Lion King.'"
"For decades children have sat in theaters all over the world experiencing collective grief for the first time, engaging Shakespeare for the first time, across aisles in myriad languages."
"A most potent vessel for communal empathy.”
Another fan then replied:
"Come on man. I interviewed you when you premiered Moonlight at TIFF, and that Barry Jenkins wouldn’t have said what you just said."
"You can do a Disney movie for the check, in order to work on your passion projects at a later time, but you don’t have to shill like this."
@BarryJenkins @midereres_k Come on man. I interviewed you when you premiered Moonlight at TIFF, and that Barry Jenkins wouldn\u2019t have said what you just said. \n\nYou can do a Disney movie for the check, in order to work on your passion projects at a later time, but you don\u2019t have to shill like this.— (@)
But Jenkins wasn't having it.
He proceeded to list "a few" things "that Barry Jenkins" worked on while he was writing Moonlight.
He included a nice intro, to boot:
"Bruh what kind of logic is that?"
"How about this, here are a few videos from the 'same Barry Jenkins who premiered Moonlight' (as you put it) showing some of the things I was doing in my spare time AT THE SAME TIME I was writing Moonlight."
Jenkins then informed his critics of those projects.
@NobleQAli @midereres_k https://t.co/smgVtOkEj3\n\nA Haunted House short film I supervised the production of for an afterschool Skate Club in San Francisco because the kids wanted to make a movie (THIS was a fantastic shoot!)— (@)
@NobleQAli @midereres_k https://t.co/l9N7GC5taF\n\nA wedding video I made with those same kids when they couldn't travel to attend the wedding of one of their most beloved instructors (man I wonder where these kids are now)— (@)
@NobleQAli @midereres_k https://t.co/aGn7kFJiAE\n\nAnd that time I took a gig because it seemed fun to throw forty or so tenth birthday parties all over the world (and this one was shot by the same DP as GLASS and US, my buddy Mike Gioulakis)— (@)
He wrapped up the shutdown:
"Children have figured prominently in every single one of the projects from Moonlight til' now without exception. Like... BRUH."
"You can say whatever you want about the film but telling ME that something I SAID about why something is meaningful to me for children is CAP?"
"Nah bruh"
@NobleQAli @midereres_k Children have figured prominently in every single one of the projects from Moonlight til' now without exception. Like... BRUH. \n\nYou can say whatever you want about the film but telling ME that something I SAID about why something is meaningful to me for children is CAP? Nah bruh— (@)
Witnesses of this fiery exchange urged Jenkins to pay his critics no mind and encouraged him to continue pursuing the projects he's passionate about.
@BarryJenkins @midereres_k Lion King was the first movie I saw. I\u2019m black and grew up in Sweden.\n\nSeeing a story about a special kid/cub in Africa finding himself in the wilderness had a tremendous effect on me. \n\nYou keep up the good work. Nobody has to get it but you and the kid it will move. \n\nBless— (@)
@BarryJenkins @midereres_k Mr. Jenkins, I'm one of the people EAGERLY awaiting this movie. I'm really liking what I see in the teaser. What they mean by soulless is that the 2019 Lion King's animation is soulless especially when COMPARED to the '94 original. non-emotive compared to what it could've been.— (@)
@BarryJenkins @midereres_k I love this response. As someone who loves small films, and art house movies, I have been moved emotionally by many Disney movies. These are not two different industries. This is film, it can be good or bad, it can make us laugh or cry. I can't wait to see what you have created— (@)
@BarryJenkins @midereres_k Well said, @BarryJenkins!\n\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffe\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffe\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffe\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffe\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffe\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffe\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffe\n\nI loved the original Lion King film, loved the 2019 remake, and can't wait to see your next chapter in the story that has resonated so profoundly with myself and countless others the world over.\n\u2764\ufe0f\ud83e\udd81\ud83d\udc51— (@)
Mufasa: The Lion King comes out on December 20.
You can watch the trailer below.