Did identity politics lead to Kurt Sutter’s expulsion from Mayans M.C.?
I didn’t know that Sutter was an SJW, if I did I probably would never have watched Sons of Anarchy, which was ok, in the beginning. But I doubt I’ll ever watch anything that he is involved with since, this includes Mayans M.C., a ‘Latino-flavored’ show whatever the heck that means.
My personal edict was validated when I heard the reasons behind him ‘stepping back’ from the series and handing the reigns over to co-creator Elgin James.
Something along the lines of him not wanting “a white guy at the helm of a drama about life in a Latino motorcycle club” and other such cuckoldry…
“I stood up here last year and shared my intentions about what I wanted for Mayans MC. That it was my job to honor the narrative legacy of SOA and guide the transition into the new mythology of the Mayans.
And with the help of an amazing cast and crew, I feel like I’ve been able to do that…By the end of this season, narrative arcs that we set up in Charming will find their conclusion in Santo Padre. And EZ Reyes will find himself inside a new, unexpected truth. His feet firmly planted. Albeit, standing in a huge puddle of fucking blood.
So as promised, it’s time for the white guy to leave the building. If we are lucky enough to have a season 3, I will be stepping back as day to day showrunner and handing the reins to my talented and passionate partner, Elgin James.
I’ll still be involved in a producorial capacity, but I’m really clear that for this show to establish its own unique mythology, one that I believe can be more potent and relevant than Sons, it has to be guided by a fresh voice. A voice of color, a voice that is still haunted by the struggle. And that voice belongs to Elgin James.”
Be it virtue-signaling or some fetid-sense of self-loathing I’m not particularly interested in consuming the products of someone with that mindset.
Deadline reports that there was some apparent “combustible activity” that lead to an “acrimonious” dismissal of Sutter. Details are small, but those apparently behind this firing are Dana Walden and John Landgraf.
The question is, why would there to be a dust up? Why would someone in full ball-gag mode be ‘forced’ to back away from a show they said they were already backing away from?
Most strange.
Yet more news has unfolded from Deadline and we have more details about what went down.
A letter from Kurt Sutter on the matter:
“The big picture. If anyone cares.
Thanks for taking a look.
—-
Let me begin by saying, I know who I am. I know the impact of my process. I’m intense and passionate. I take what I do very seriously. That’s what having a vision manifests. And if you fuck with that vision, I’m gonna push back. When I’m right, I let the work speak for itself. When I’m wrong, I own it, make amends and fix it.I pride myself on having a supportive and empowering set. I try to acknowledge all the hard work everyone does. I’m clear that it’s a collaborative effort. And I try to pass that philosophy down to my writers and producers so they do the same.
Disney letting me go today was apparently based on data collected by HR and Business Affairs from writers, producers, cast and crew. They claim the intel suggests that I created a climate of hostility, favoritism and enabled a set where no one felt safe or appreciated. I know that’s not true. I’m not saying it was all sunshine and roses, but I’m close with most of those guys and they love going to work. I’m also not sure how, having been on set… maybe three times all season, I was able to singularly create that much damage.
What I do own, what I see now in hindsight, is that detaching myself so much this season was a mistake. I understand how it was perceived as me sticking my head in the sand. And that people felt like no one was steering the ship. But that wasn’t a management error on my part, it was a creative decision to empower Elgin and the future of the show. The reason I decided to do it, was because the network forced me to hire a directing EP to run the production end. So I did. He came in with a lot of experience and his enthusiasm gave me confidence he could do the job. So, with Elgin, the new EP in place, and with Jon Pare our great line producer, I stayed focused on story, writing and post.
Never did I think the ship was off course until after mid season when I suddenly was bombarded with unfavorable reports about the tension on set. I am not going to mention names, because I don’t want to point fingers. So yes, there were complaints. And ultimately whomever they are about lands on me to fix. That’s when I contacted the network to let them know. They told me they’d look into it. And to sit tight. So I did.
Who I have been hard on this season is the studio and network. I’ve felt the creative scrutiny of Disney from day one. Notes on scripts and cuts have been heavy handed. Demanding a level of dumbing-down story and inane PC restraints like I’ve never experienced before. I genuinely feared for the creative future of the storytelling. So I pushed back.Hard. No different than I have in the past. In fact, much tamer than I ever was on SOA. However, I was dealing with personnel who didn’t know me. And my level of… passion. Clearly I ruffled a few mouse ears.
I know my role at Mayans MC was going to be greatly reduced. I am handing off the show to Elgin. So it’s not the job that’s the issue.
What pisses me off, what hurts the most, is that John Landgraf and Dana Walden sat across from me and sited a summary of a slanted truth formulated by lawyers and clerks. They blamed my dismissal on the cast and crew.
People I care about. People I respect. They had no first hand knowledge of anything they were saying. They’ve never been on set or spoken to any of my people. I’m not saying all of the intel was bullshit. But I know that’s not why I was fired. The truth is, the suits wanted me gone. I stepped on toes and bruised egos. And in this Disney regime, I’m dangerous to the wholesome brand. And clearly not worth the trouble. So 18 years of friendship, loyalty and producing quality television, was flushed down the drain. They threw me under the fucking bus.
I send this diatribe because I feel deeply wronged. They embarrassed me. They created a false narrative that could damage my reputation and career. I want them to understand the depth of that mistake.
Talk soon.
Thanks.
ks
sutterin”
Mmhmm, seems to me like all that ‘diversity’ created the right environment for wholesale drama.
Funny how that works.
If the guy didn’t contribute to the SJW culture and narrative I would be in his corner. But he did, so I’m not. He was swallowed up and spit out by Disney, an entity that is now the embodiment of such an ideology on the creative front. A grotesque monstrosity that people like Sutter helped create.
He doesn’t like how the monster treated him. Maybe he regrets aiding the beast.
Too little, too late.
Source Deadline
