James Cameron has hit out at Amy Poehler for a 2013 Golden Globe joke he says 'went too far.'
In a recent interview with the New York Times, the Avatar: Fire and Ash director reflected on his career and reputation as a perfectionist.
And he was quick to call out comedian Poehler for her 'ignorant' comment on his two-year marriage with fellow movie director, Kathryn Bigelow.
The couple began dating in 1988 before getting married on August 17, 1989.
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The exact reason for their 1991 divorce remains under wraps, but Cameron and Bigelow maintained a professional relationship, going on to collaborate on the 1995 sci-fi thriller Strange Days.
Fast forward to the 2013 Golden Globes, and Bigelow was up for Best Director for Zero Dark Thirty.
The film follows a decade-long CIA manhunt for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
Zero Dark Thirty was controversial for its depiction of CIA interrogation tactics, with critics arguing the film appeared to suggest that torture played a role in locating Osama bin Laden - a claim disputed by US officials and human rights groups alike.
"I haven't really been following the controversy over Zero Dark Thirty," Poehler began. "But when it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron."
The renowned filmmaker kept tight-lipped about the jibe at the time, but reflected on it during his NYT interview.
"I'm pretty thick-skinned, and happy to be the butt of a good-natured joke, but that went too far," Cameron said, particularly because it was made 'at an event which is supposed to be a celebration of cinema and filmmakers, not a roast.'
The fact that it prompted laughter from the star-studded audience - many his peers and colleagues - is what stung most.
"The fact that people found it funny shows exactly what they think of me, even though they have no idea who I am or how I work," he said.
UNILAD has contacted Amy Poehler's representatives for comment.
Cameron has previously admitted he can be tough on set, but denies being cruel.
On potential to improve his relationship with cast and crew, he admitted during a masterclass: "I could’ve listened more. I could’ve been less autocratic."
Those who’ve worked closely with Cameron have also defended his approach, with Kate Winslet saying in 2022: "A chef is never gonna send a great dish out to the table if he's not happy with that plate."
Topics: James Cameron, Golden Globes, Film and TV, Entertainment, Celebrity, Hollywood
Ellie Kemp