X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Opens Up About Marvel Fallout, Lawsuit, and His OnlyFans Evolution

With the first three episodes of X-Men '97 Season 2 now available on Disney+, the series is back in the spotlight. But alongside the show's return, former showrunner Beau DeMayo is once again making headlines after speaking candidly about his dramatic exit from Marvel Studios, his ongoing legal dispute with the company, and why his OnlyFans presence has changed so dramatically over the past year.

DeMayo, who completed writing X-Men '97 Season 2 before he was fired just 16 days ahead of the show's March 2024 premiere, sat down with Vanity Fair for a wide-ranging interview covering the controversy that has surrounded him since his departure.

When Disney announced his firing last year, the company released a brief statement that read: "Mr. DeMayo was terminated in March 2024 following an internal investigation. Given the egregious nature of the findings, we severed ties with him immediately, and he has no further affiliation with Marvel."

Several months later, trade reports claimed that a source familiar with the investigation alleged that "evidence was discovered of sexual misconduct." DeMayo has consistently denied those accusations.

In a video released in September 2024, he responded by saying: "These allegations of egregious misconduct are false. The rumors being spread around me online are lies, and they are offensive."

That same month, DeMayo filed a lawsuit against Marvel, seeking relief from what he says was a non-disparagement agreement he felt pressured into signing following his termination. The case is still ongoing and is currently scheduled to go to trial in July 2027.

During his conversations with Vanity Fair, before communication between the two reportedly stopped, DeMayo also spoke about his experience working at Marvel. He claimed that being a queer Black man shaped how some people viewed him within the company.

According to DeMayo, colleagues would tell him: "Oh, you don't look like a showrunner," He added there was: "that vibe that I was the DEI hire."

Another topic he addressed was his OnlyFans account, which has become increasingly explicit since leaving Marvel. DeMayo insists the company already knew about the account while he was employed and that it wasn't considered an issue.

"It was cleared," DeMayo explained, adding: "It was like, 'It is your personal life. As long as you're not advertising the show on your OnlyFans, as long as you're keeping it very separate from the content of the show, it's outside of their purview.'"

He also shared why he's become much more comfortable posting revealing content online. "People always ask questions about my Instagram and how sex positive it is or thirsty," DeMayo said.

"When I was growing up, I had such a massive shame about my body and physical appearance, both racially and sexually. The more I confronted that, the more proud I became of it."

According to the report, however, his OnlyFans content has become significantly more explicit since leaving Marvel, including "full frontal nude photos of DeMayo masturbating, playing with sex toys, and, in at least one video, a 'collab' with another male partner."

DeMayo maintains that none of that material existed while he was actively working on X-Men '97.

He also described the day he was fired, claiming Disney's HR department contacted him while he was at the gym regarding misconduct allegations before informing him that his employment had been terminated.

He further alleged that he was pressured into signing an exit agreement that included a non-disclosure agreement.

Following his departure, DeMayo became increasingly vocal about Marvel on social media. One flashpoint came after he shared fan art during Pride Month depicting himself as Cyclops. According to DeMayo, Marvel later accused him of violating his exit agreement because of the post.

Reflecting on the experience, he said: "I remember sitting there the entire time being sick to my stomach that this was going to become an issue, and that Marvel was going to come at me for this. It’s like, 'Here I am hanging out with my community, and I don’t feel safe anymore because of this studio.'"

Despite reportedly being warned that his credits for Season 2 would be removed, DeMayo still receives creator, executive producer, and writer credits on the new season.

The report also notes that although DeMayo completed the scripts before his departure, they were revised after he left under supervising producer Jake Castorena.

Several people interviewed for the feature also offered their own perspectives on DeMayo and the controversy surrounding him. One source praised his talent while questioning whether the fallout would've played out differently under different circumstances.

"He’s the most talented writer I know. [The OnlyFans thing] is not going to make it easier for him. If you were a white straight dude, would this kill his career as well? I don’t know."

Another source had a much different opinion, saying: "So much of it is just this narcissistic need for people to watch him. I think he needs approval, which is obvious considering his background. I get it.

“Now that he can’t get that from X-Men, I think this is the next easy way to do it—or not easy, but the next avenue for him. I don’t know if he would be doing it if he was still working."

The situation surrounding DeMayo and Marvel remains unresolved, with both sides continuing to stand by their respective positions. While the legal battle won't reach trial until next year, fans can now judge X-Men '97 Season 2 on its own merits as the latest episodes continue streaming on Disney+, even as the conversation surrounding its original showrunner shows no signs of fading anytime soon.