Shoji Gatoh (the creator of Full Metal Panic! and Amagi Brilliant Park) has apologized for disparaging comments against environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

The now-deleted tweet reportedly was in reply to an NHK article about the activist. It allegedly said “I dislike this girl. If I ruled the world from the shadows, I would take everything from her and sneer at her when she hits rock bottom. Then I’d make her eat a delicious, piping hot steak and watch the tears of frustration on her face. I really want to see it.”

His comments generated some backlash; including Full Metal Panic! 0 ‐ZERO‐ manga artist Tetsuro Kasahara, who allegedly tweeted he would not be drawing any sequel mangas to Full Metal Panic!.

Full Metal Panic! illustrator Shikidouji also commented to Shoji’s tweet “I feel like I saw the moment a villain was born “Are you actually a good person!?”” A tweet a few days later indicates Shikidouji did not realize Thunberg was vegetarian, and he apologized- though what for is not exactly clear.

Shoji later deleted the tweet and apologized. “It was a terrible thing to say against a young woman. I’ve reflected and deleted it. For the time being, Twitter activity will be suspended. I apologize for the inconvenience to many people due to my speech and lack of respect for others.”

Thunberg made her speech to the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019. Since then she has been both praised and denounced. Her strongest critics take issue for many reasons, including (but not limited to) allegations that her parents were manipulating her, accusations that she is suffering from a learning disability (such as autism or fetal alcohol syndrome), her alarmist attitude combined with unrealistic solutions, fear-mongering, and hypocrisy due to her wealthy background and protesting via a round the world trip (and not going to school).

Original Image: Chris Kotzo (via Wallpaper Abyss)