Fans had a lot of questions when it was revealed that Michelle Borth had been dropped from DCEU sequel Shazam! Fury of the Gods after director David F. Sandberg posted an image revealing the grown-up versions of the younger characters in their shiny new superhero outfits.
On one hand, it sort of makes sense that Grace Fulton would pull double duty as both iterations of Mary Bromfield, when the 24-year-old actress is a good few years older than the rest of the teenage cast members. Then again, 42-year-old Michelle Borth is in the same demographic as Zachary Levi, Adam Brody, D.J. Cotrona and Meaghan Good, all of whom are aged between 39 and 41, while Borth was reported to have signed a multi-picture deal to recur across the entire shared universe.
However, the star has now found herself targeted by cancel culture based on a social media post she made back in January that eulogized Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by a police officer during the riots in the Capitol. As you can see below, a lot of people seem to be under the impression that this is the reason she’s absent from Fury of the Gods.
https://twitter.com/rhighbrow/status/1407553062735056901
It went from 'Michelle borth had a dumb take on a social issue' to 'michelle borth was at the capitol riots' real quick as if this is not her instagram also lmao pic.twitter.com/eTSeNLoyLT
— 'Scott Adkins in a fat suit' Box (@luunchbox) June 23, 2021
https://twitter.com/BuckyFearIess/status/1407471895386234882
https://twitter.com/petalsforval/status/1407462067997712390
Nice knowing you, Michelle Borth. I enjoyed you on H50 and other things, but when you outed yourself as an insurrectionist, you're done. https://t.co/9zBmtfn93X
— Kevin Crossman (@KevinCrossman) June 22, 2021
It doesn't shock me at all that the #MichelleBorth fangirls are so quick to YASSS QUEEN their dumpster fire, even when she's emphatically in the wrong.
— random. (@filthylimericks) June 22, 2021
Another to cancel culture Michelle Borth to talking about Ashli Babbit
If it had been a more "acceptable" woke person talked on she wouldn't be fired from her part in shazam 2#CancelCulture #hypocricy#hollywood
— ScarletDMC (@ComicsanDlove) June 22, 2021
I take back what I wrote yesterday – if they actually fired her over that post, I will definitely NOT see that movie.
I hope Michelle Borth is not going to let wokies tear her to shreds. Fighting back is an option now.
— kreese 1984 (@1984Kreese) June 22, 2021
https://twitter.com/ZeeManCan/status/1407432979085991944
https://twitter.com/PhuckSea/status/1407226107875663872
https://twitter.com/ASAP_July16/status/1407214820684931072
Empathy for a terrorist. Makes so much sense. Hey if someone doesn't like your social media posts they have a right to not want to work with you. Maybe that's what happened to her.
— Shamil Makeen 🇱🇰🇨🇦 (@ShamilMak) June 22, 2021
Those to have trawled through Borth’s Instagram and Twitter accounts seeking more ammunition to fire in her direction would have been greeted by posts celebrating Pride month, the Black Lives Matter movement and support for Hong Kong protesters seeking democracy, which counters the knee-jerk reaction in some corners labeling her as a pro-insurrection supporter of domestic terrorism. It’s a strange situation for sure, but as of yet there’s been no official word as to why she’s been replaced in Shazam! Fury of the Gods.