James Cameron has criticised Amy Poehler's joke about him at the 2013 Golden Globes, describing it as 'ignorant' and saying it went 'too far'. The director, whose new Avatar sequel is currently in cinemas, was targeted by Poehler when his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow was nominated for Zero Dark Thirty.
Poehler quipped: 'When it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron.' Cameron, married to Bigelow from 1989 to 1991, told The New York Times: '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.' He added that he is 'pretty thick-skinned' but that the joke went 'too far'.
The joke referenced Cameron's reputation as a perfectionist. Titanic star Kate Winslet once said he had 'a temper like you wouldn't believe', while Avatar's Sam Worthington recalled that if a phone went off on set, Cameron 'would nail it to the wall with a nailgun'. Cameron has previously admitted to playing up to the 'image of what a filmmaker was supposed to be' but said his character has 'evolved'.
In 2009, Cameron and Bigelow were both nominated for Best Director Oscars for Avatar and The Hurt Locker. Cameron said he was 'a little concerned' the 'meta-narrative' about their marriage would undermine Bigelow's credibility, but added that he was 'the first one' on his feet when she won.
