On December 28, the late Stan Lee turned 99 years old. Star Trek’s William Shatner posts a celebratory message to Lee while reigniting controversy.
Star Trek‘s William Shatner celebrated the birthday of Marvel icon Stan Lee while also dredging up a recent controversy.
Lee’s social media accounts have mostly been used to commemorate the comic creator with old photos and moments, but on Dec. 14, 2021 a post went out promoting a non-fungible token (NFT) of a character Lee created, Chakra The Invincible, which upset fans over the marketing use of his accounts. Two weeks later on Lee’s birthday, Dec. 28, Shatner posted a message on Twitter celebrating Lee while including an image that mocked the Chakra NFT promoted. The actor commented on the cartoonish photo of Lee, writing, “BTW isn’t the NFT below adorable?”
Shatner opened the tweet by saying, “My friends, today [Stan Lee] would have been 99 years young. I want to celebrate his life and remember him by getting the hashtag #STANLEE99 Trending? Will you help me?” The photo included shows a cupcake with candles reading “99” and Lee wearing a technological headpiece and a shirt that is a clear reference to the suit work by Chakra The Invincible. However, it is unclear if Shatner was aware of the backlash that resulted from the promotion of the NFT on Lee’s accounts, due to his reactions to backlash his own post garnered.
It’s an image celebrating Stan’s Birthday nothing more than that. If the fact it was used in an NFT that is upsetting I’m sorry you feel that way. https://t.co/arWmdK2SkF
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) December 28, 2021
As of writing, the celebration post has been quote tweeted 400 times with over 250 comments, with many calling out the Dec. 14 post and others attacking Shatner over his message and the image included. While responding to one Twitter user, Shatner wrote, “It’s an image celebrating Stan’s Birthday nothing more than that. If the fact it was used in an NFT that is upsetting I’m sorry you feel that way.”
Being that NFTs are unique digital items that are sold online and Shatner labeled the image included as an NFT while promoting a hashtag, others accused him of trying to profit off of Lee’s legacy and post. Shatner responded to another user with, “And who is making money? I’m honoring a friend on his 99th birthday. Where have you seen any request for money?”
Shatner continued to double-down of his stance that the post was nothing more than a tribute to Lee, who Shatner wrote in another post about seeing at conventions and going to out to dinner with, considering Lee his friend. Shatner has appeared at numerous conventions over the years, with one of his more recent appearances being at New York Comic Con before his trip into outer space, which was documented in a Prime Video special.
Stan Lee passed away in Nov. 12, 2018, with his known works and characters that he created and co-created with others still being praised to this day, through comics, film, television and more.
About The Author
For all the latest Comics News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
