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Published 14:55 IST, September 26th 2019

Warner Bros. responds to Joker controversy, says "he is not a hero"

The Warner Bros have finally come out in reaction to recent controversies over their upcoming movie ‘Joker issuing a statement in the wake of Aurora shootings.

Reported by: Manogya Singh
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The Warner Bros have finally come out in reaction to the recent controversies over their upcoming thriller ‘Joker’. The studios issued a statement in the wake of families of the Aurora mass shooting victims, expressing their concerns about their upcoming film.  

Letter to Warner bros. 

The family members of the 12 victims that were killed on July 12, 2012 at the mass shooting at a screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado, have collectively signed a letter to the studio sharing their concerns for ‘joker’ and have asked them to donate to groups that aid victims of gun violence. 

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Read: Joker Release Date Gets Preponed To October 2 In Indian Cinemas

The letter sent by the family members of the mass shooting supported the studio’s right to produce the film and exercise the freedom of speech by the characters and artists expression. However, they also urged the studio to take necessary steps to get involved in the gun control movement, including to pledge not to donate to political candidates who gain funds from NRA and vote against gun reforms.

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Read: 'Joker' Doesn't Follow The Comic Books: Director Todd Phillips

The studio breaks silence 

The studios have responded back to the critics, by stating that the upcoming film is not glamourizing the mass murderer and that the main character of the film is not a ‘hero’.

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According to the recently issued statement, the studious claim that neither the film nor the fictional character ‘Joker’ is an endorsement to the real-world violence of any kind. The entire studio, the filmmakers and the film do not intend to glamorize the character as a hero, because he is not.  

Read: The Battle Between Heath Ledger's And Joaquin Pheonix's Jokers Has Begun, But Did You Spot These Hidden References In The Trailer?

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Soon after the letter was received, Warner bros claimed that studio has a history of fighting for the same cause as gun violence is highly critical in the society and that they express their deepest sympathy to all the victims and their families.  

The statement also added that the studio’s parent company joined other business leaders to call on the policymakers to enact bi-partisans legislation to address this epidemic.  

Read: "Put On A Happy Face": The Intense Trailer Of 'Joker' Tells The Origin Story Of The Iconic DC Villain

(With inputs from ANI)

13:31 IST, September 26th 2019