'It's a balance': A look back at the Zachary Levi twitter controversy, Shazam's future, and the fine line of celebrity opinion

A Superhero in a Social Media Storm: Zachary Levi’s Twitter Firestorm and the Battle of Opinions

It's been six months since Zachary Levi, known for his titular role in DC's "Shazam!" franchise, found himself embroiled in a Twitter controversy. With the release of "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," in March this year, we're taking a look back at how Levi's tweets about Pfizer and other controversial statements sparked a debate that still resonates.

“Hardcore Agree”: Zachary Levi’s Anti-Pfizer Stance

The tweet that ignited the firestorm came from Levi himself when he responded to a statement calling pharmaceutical giant Pfizer “a real danger to the world” with “Hardcore agree.” What followed was a maelstrom of reactions, speculation, and debate as to whether Levi's agreement was directed towards Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine or a more generalized criticism of the pharmaceutical industry.

"It's a balance. It's a modern world and it's a different place," said DC boss James Gunn, reflecting on the complexity of personal opinions and public perception as reported by Variety.

A History of Controversy: Zachary Levi's Other Social Media Missteps

The Pfizer tweet was not Levi's first brush with online controversy. His opinions on issues such as "reverse racism" and "reverse sexism," his praise for Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, and his participation in a controversial episode of the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast have been met with criticism. Even a meme shared on his Instagram story mocking Amber Heard became a talking point.

"Today I learned that Zachary Levi is a weirdo anti-vaxxer who supports hate speech in all its forms," tweeted @MediumSizeMeech, encapsulating the sentiment of many Twitter users.

The Impact on "Shazam! Fury of the Gods"

Levi's online storm occurred just two months before the release of "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," leading to questions about the potential impact on the film's marketing and success. The lead actor's statements could have swayed public opinion, with one Twitter user pointing out the unusual choice of kicking off a marketing campaign for a "$125 million movie" with controversial retweets.

A Superhero’s Future in Question

While the immediate plans for DC focus on fresh talent and new characters, the future of existing franchise stars, including Levi, remains uncertain. Gunn and new DC co-chairmen Peter Safran continue to navigate the balance between the demands of a modern world and the potential controversies of their actors.

“Nobody’s perfect,” Levi told Joe Rogan in a quote that perhaps best sums up this chapter of his career. A superhero on-screen, and a controversial figure off it, Zachary Levi's Twitter saga serves as a reminder that even heroes are subject to the scrutiny of the digital age.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)