Nick Vallelonga, the Golden Globe–winning screenwriter behind Green Book, has deleted his Twitter account after a tweet from 2015 began circulating in which he expressed support for the debunked right-wing conspiracy theory that Muslims were celebrating on 9/11 in New Jersey. The tweet from Vallelonga’s account was responding to then-candidate Donald Trump and claimed that “Muslims in Jersey City cheering when towers went down. I saw it, as you did, possibly on local CBS news.†A representative for the screenwriter told IndieWire, “The twitter account has been deleted … not sure if any comment is actually needed here.â€
Meanwhile, numerous people have pointed out that Green Book star Mahershala Ali is actually a Muslim, and this isn’t even the only scandal that emerged about this film today!
Update, 1/11: Green Book writer Nick Vallelonga has apologized for his 2015 tweet claiming that he saw Muslim Americans cheering during 9/11. In a statement released Friday morning, Vallelonga said he’s sorry to the Green Book team, supporting actor Mahershala Ali, and his own father, who took the movie’s trip with the pianist Dr. Don Shirley.
“I want to apologize. I spent my life trying to bring this story of overcoming differences and finding common ground to the screen, and I am incredibly sorry to everyone associated with Green Book,†Vallelonga said in a statement, according to the New York Post. “I especially deeply apologize to the brilliant and kind Mahershala Ali, and all members of the Muslim faith, for the hurt I have caused. I am also sorry to my late father who changed so much from Dr. Shirley’s friendship and I promise this lesson is not lost on me. Green Book is a story about love, acceptance and overcoming barriers, and I will do better.†What scandal will befall this movie next?