Petition demands Maze Runner cast apologise for 'thefts' from Native American burial site
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Version 0 of 1. A petition calling on members of the cast of sci-fi sequel Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials to apologise for stealing artefacts from an ancient Native American burial site has gathered more than 28,000 signatures. American actor Dylan O’Brien, who takes the lead role in the teen-oriented dystopian saga, appeared on the US talk show Live With Kelly & Michael recently to talk about the film. During the interview, he and hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan joked that cast members might have suffered a Native American curse after taking artefacts without permission. “We filmed in New Mexico, in these mountains. It hadn’t been used for filming ever before ... They gave us this big speech when we got there to shoot, and they said, ‘Don’t take anything. Respect the grounds,’” said O’Brien, 24. “They were very strict about littering and [said] don’t take any artefacts: rocks, skulls – anything like that. And everyone just takes stuff, you know, obviously. “Within a week, five of our actors went down ill, random stuff like appendectomy, 105 fever, broken ankle … They had to send me home for two nights early, because I had a fever.” Related: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials review – a YA franchise runs out of steam In an online petition, 19-year-old Maze Runner fan Maeve Cunningham said she found the tone of the interview, as well as its revelations “disturbing” and called on O’Brien and fellow cast members to apologise to tribal leaders. “The Native Americans from that area, the Pueblo people, have spoken out, angered and disrespected,” she wrote. “While O’Brien plays it for laughs, talking about bringing a Native American curse on the cast, his flip [sic] treatment of the crew’s actions is outrageous. O’Brien, the film’s director, and other crew members involved need to apologise to Pueblo tribal leaders for their behaviour and return any artefacts they removed from the site.” It is not clear whether Pueblo leaders have complained about the Live With Kelly & Michael episode. However, Cunningham told The Wrap she believed other Maze Runner fans were angry and disappointed at the revelations. The Scorch Trials debuted in US cinemas on 18 September and has so far pulled in $211m (£139m), despite lukewarm reviews. Studio 20th Century Fox has not yet made any public comment on the online petition. |