James Gunn just can’t help himself. Just days after calling fans “racists” in an interview with GQ, the latest episode of Peacemaker doubled down with a storyline that many are calling flat-out offensive — this time targeting Christians.
“Oh, Him They Love”
In the new episode, Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) and Judo Master (Nhut Le) discuss the alternate-Earth setting known as Earth-X, a fascist world where Germany won World War 2 and spread to all corners of the globe. It’s a world where people of color, religious minorities, and gay individuals are persecuted.
Judo Master warns: “You don’t want to be a minority here. Or gay or Buddhist or anything I am really.”
Adebayo replies in disbelief: “Jesus Christ.”
To which Judo Master delivers the James Gunn punchline: “Oh, him they love!”
James Gunn sits for an interview – YouTube, GQ
This episode was written and directed by none other than DC Studios co-head James Gunn himself.
The line is played for humor, but the implication is crystal clear: Gunn and his writing team are linking Christianity with fascism. In the Earth-X universe, it’s not just fascists who thrive — it’s Christians. The message is unmistakable, and it’s hard to imagine anyone writing a similar line about another religion without immediate industry backlash.
Comparing Apples to Oranges
Later in the episode, the commentary gets even more on the nose. Adebayo reflects on the horrors of Earth-X and concludes that it’s “Not as different from our own world as we wish it was.”
Judo Master responds with a smirk, saying, “Damn straight!”
A screenshot from the intro of Peacemaker on Max – Max
That exchange is supposed to be biting social commentary, but it collapses under the weight of reality. On Earth-X, Adebayo is literally chased down the street simply for being a Black woman out in daylight. In the world of the DCU, her character’s mother, Amanda Waller, is portrayed as one of the most powerful figures in government. To equate those two scenarios is not just insulting, it’s dishonest.
“Superman leads into this show and then we have the setting up of all of the rest of the DCU in this season of Peacemaker, it’s incredibly important,” – James Gunn
James Gunn’s DCU pic.twitter.com/MKYmpJOWuf
— Nerdrotic (@Nerdrotics) October 3, 2025
This isn’t edgy commentary. It’s lazy, ignorant, and inflammatory storytelling that tries to score political points by attacking faith and exaggerating oppression.
A Familiar Hollywood Playbook
None of this should surprise longtime observers of James Gunn. Hollywood has been pushing this tactic for years.
- Step 1: Link traditional or religious values with authoritarianism.
- Step 2: Equate criticism of the writing with bigotry.
- Step 3: Paint overblown dystopias as “not so different from our own world” as a way of moralizing at the audience.
James Gunn and John Cena introduce the Red Band Trailer for Peacemaker Season 2 – YouTube, DC
But this one strikes at the heart of millions of Christians, who see their faith maligned in Peacemaker as an accessory to tyranny. For Gunn to tie fascism and Christianity together in a mainstream DC property is beyond tone-deaf.
Fan Blaming Comes Full Circle
What makes this even worse is the timing. Just last week, Gunn defended himself from criticism of Episode 6 by claiming: “I have a few racists that have called me polarizing, but I’m okay with being polarizing and letting racists fall to the wayside.”
John Cena dancing in the opening to Peacemaker Season 2 – YouTube, DC
It’s the same Hollywood playbook we’ve seen over and over: dismiss any negative response by smearing the fans. If you didn’t like the episode, maybe you’re a racist. If you’re offended by Christianity being connected to fascism, well, that’s your problem too.
Conclusion
James Gunn has made himself the center of the DC Universe, and now Peacemaker is being used as his soapbox to spout social commentary and malign Christians. But there’s a difference between edgy satire and outright contempt. Linking Christianity to fascism while dismissing critics as racists is not a winning formula.
James Gunn introduces the trailer for Peacemaker Season 2 – YouTube, DC
If this is the vision guiding DC’s future, then fans may be asking themselves a question Gunn doesn’t want to hear: is the DCU being built on storytelling… or arrogance?
How do you feel about this line in Peacemaker about Christians? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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