Marvel Entertainment CEO Isaac “Ike” Perlmutter is facing heavy criticism for donating $1 million to American veterans on Thursday night for an event hosted by Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump in Des Moines, Iowa.
Following a dispute with Fox News and debate moderator Megyn Kelly, Trump skipped the final GOP debate before voting begins in Iowa, and instead held a fundraiser for veterans where he raised $6 million – much of it from fellow businessmen Perlmutter, investor Carl Icahn, and real estate developer Phil Ruffin.
Trump said at the fundraiser Perlmutter is “an unbelievable man,” who is also “one of the great, great men of our country in terms of business and talent.”
A representative for the Marvel exec and his wife Laura later told industry outlet The Hollywood Reporter: “The Perlmutters are thrilled to support their friend Donald Trump in his efforts to help veterans.”
Perlmutter’s decision to donate to veterans created an immediate backlash among critics of Trump’s campaign online, where Perlmutter has been described as a “super villain” and accused of promoting “racism” and gender inequality for supporting Trump.
In calling for a boycott of Marvel, leftwing news site Salon wrote that Perlmutter’s decision to support vets through Trump demonstrates the comic book giant actively discriminates against women and minorities. Salon writes:
Thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Comics has become one of the most influential forces in shaping American popular culture today. Unfortunately, Marvel has refused to use this power responsibly; even as their celluloid and pulp characters rake in billions fighting fictional bogeyman, Marvel continues to actively perpetuate many of the racial and gender inequalities that thwart justice in the real world. As such, Perlmutter’s support for the Trump campaign – which has emerged as a potent vehicle for racist and sexist ideologies – cannot simply be dismissed as simply one more occasion of a right-wing plutocrat backing one of his own. On a deeper level, it demonstrates that the reactionary ideals embedded in Trumpism are also promoted in our entertainment products… and that if we are going to oppose the former, we must also recognize and take a stand against the latter.
Beyond simply endorsing Trump’s campaign, he [Perlmutter] is actively backing his efforts to punish Fox News for not capitulating to Trump’s misogynistic demand that Kelly either kowtow to his ego or not be included among the panel’s moderators. Between that and his willingness to help elect a presidential candidate whose campaign has been fueled by bigotry against Mexicans and Muslims, it’s impossible to believe that Perlmutter’s reactionary beliefs aren’t shaping the properties he plays such a major role in helping to craft.
Salon adds, “progressives have the power to compel Marvel and its business allies to change its racial and gender attitudes.”
Self-described comedian Peter Coffin called for Perlmutter to resign from Marvel following the donation to veterans:
Other Marvel fans also criticized the CEO:
https://twitter.com/MildlyAmused/status/693107063304622081
https://twitter.com/authorsahunt/status/693131124504182785
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