James Cameron has revisited a joke Amy Poehler made at the 2013 Golden Globes that referenced his past marriage to filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, the legendary director took issue with the comment, describing it as “an ignorant dig” that ultimately “went too far.”
Poehler co-hosted the 2013 Golden Globes alongside Tina Fey, a night when Bigelow was nominated for Best Director for Zero Dark Thirty. During the opening monologue, Poehler addressed the heated debate around the film’s depiction of torture with a pointed joke.
“When it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron,” Poehler said, drawing audible shock from the crowd — including Zero Dark Thirty star Jessica Chastain.
“Amy Poehler’s remark was an ignorant dig at an event which is supposed to be a celebration of cinema and filmmakers, not a roast,” Cameron told The NYT. “I’m pretty thick-skinned, and happy to be the butt of a good-natured joke, but that went too far. 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.”
Cameron and Bigelow were married from 1989 to 1991 before splitting. Both went on to reach massive career milestones, with Bigelow making history in 2010 as the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director for The Hurt Locker — the same year Cameron’s Avatar was also nominated in the category.
Bigelow’s appearance at the 2013 Golden Globes marked her major return to the awards spotlight with Zero Dark Thirty, a film that sparked controversy over its portrayal of enhanced interrogation methods.
Cameron’s New York Times interview came as part of the press run for the newest chapter in his Avatar franchise, Avatar: Fire and Ash.
The film has started strong at the box office, pulling in over $100 million worldwide so far domestically.
Avatar: Fire and Ash premiered in theaters on Friday (December 19), earning $36.5 million on opening day. It also racked up more than $11 million in previews on the 10th. Overall, the film is tracking for a domestic opening between $84 million and $95 million in the United States.
