James Cameron Shares His Thoughts on Amy Poehler’s Golden Globes Joke About His Marriage to Kathryn Bigelow

James Cameron Reflects on Controversial Golden Globes Joke

In a recent interview, filmmaker James Cameron shared his thoughts on a joke made by Amy Poehler during the 2013 Golden Globes, in which he was the subject of humor. Cameron, known for directing Avatar: Fire and Ash, expressed his displeasure over the incident, stating it overshadowed the intended celebration of cinema.

Poehler’s joke came as part of a monologue delivered by her and Tina Fey, in which they commented on the controversial portrayal of torture in Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty. Poehler quipped, “When it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron.”

In an interview with The New York Times, Cameron reflected on Poehler’s comment, describing it as "an ignorant dig." He emphasized that the Golden Globes should honor filmmakers rather than act as a roast. “I’m pretty thick-skinned, and happy to be the butt of a good-natured joke, but that went too far," he said. Cameron added that the humor seemed to reflect misconceptions about him, noting, “The fact that people found it funny shows exactly what they think of me, even though they have no idea who I am or how I work.”

Cameron also highlighted the competitive narrative Hollywood often promotes between filmmakers, recalling the 2009-2010 award season when Avatar and The Hurt Locker vied for accolades. Bigelow won the Academy Award for Best Director for The Hurt Locker, which also secured the Best Picture prize.

“I was the first one on my feet applauding,” Cameron remarked on Bigelow’s victory, acknowledging the absurdity of the situation. “Kathryn and I thought the whole meta-narrative around us was pretty funny. I was a little concerned that it would just take away from her credibility as a filmmaker. It started to turn into a conversation that wasn’t about her film, and that bothered both of us.”

Cameron and Bigelow were married from 1989 to 1991, and their collaborative efforts include executive producing the film Point Break (1991) and co-writing Strange Days (1995).