Evangeline Lilly slams Disney over Marvel layoffs: says cuts are disgusting

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• Evangeline Lilly’s Instagram reaction: AI, artists and accountability
• Standing up for visual artists who shaped Marvel
• How many jobs were cut and which teams were hit
• What this means for Marvel’s visual department and hiring
• Corporate response and industry context
• Calls to action, and voices rallying around creators
• Where the story stands now and who is being credited

Evangeline Lilly fired a blistering critique at Disney this week, after reports that thousands of employees across the company were laid off. Her message, posted on Instagram, mixed anger at corporate decisions with a fierce defense of the artists who helped build the Marvel brand.

Evangeline Lilly’s Instagram reaction: AI, artists and accountability

The actor who portrayed Hope van Dyne, known to audiences as the Wasp, used social media to call out what she sees as a moral and legal gap. Lilly urged lawmakers to protect creative work from being absorbed into artificial intelligence systems without consent or compensation.

She framed the issue as more than corporate cost-cutting. In her post she accused executives of profiting while creative workers suffer, and demanded action from California lawmakers to curb the practice.

Standing up for visual artists who shaped Marvel

Lilly paid direct tribute to the people behind the look and feel of Marvel’s films. She praised the visual teams for long days and relentless devotion, saying their contributions are the foundation of the studio’s success.

• Recognition: She singled out the visual development artists as the magicians behind Marvel’s “glory days.”
• Public support: Lilly encouraged followers to amplify the profiles of creative leads, naming individuals she wanted to support.
• Personal note: The actress emphasized she knows the demands of that work firsthand and won’t forget their efforts.

How many jobs were cut and which teams were hit

Industry reports say the shake-up affected roughly 8% of staff at Marvel’s New York and Burbank offices. Disney later confirmed the company-wide impact reached as many as 1,000 employees.

• Film and TV production
• Visual development
• Comics divisions
• Franchise management
• Finance and legal teams

Sources describe a broad reduction across departments rather than a single isolated unit.

What this means for Marvel’s visual department and hiring

The visual team appears to be moving to a leaner internal footprint. Reports indicate only a small in-house core will remain.

Going forward, many art and design roles are expected to be filled on a project-by-project basis by outside contractors. That shift raises concerns about stability for long-term staff.

Corporate response and industry context

Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro acknowledged the layoffs and framed them as part of company-wide adjustments. This is not the first round of cuts Marvel has faced this year.

Journalists and insiders labeled the recent reductions a “bloodbath” in social posts and interviews, and several employees and advocates have amplified that language online to describe the sudden changes.

Calls to action, and voices rallying around creators

Beyond criticizing corporate leadership, Lilly used her platform to demand legal protections that prevent creative work from being assimilated into AI systems without permission.

• Legal reform: She asked for laws to remove artistic work from AI training pools.
• Public solidarity: She urged fans to support named visual leaders and colleagues affected by the cuts.
• Accountability: She urged Disney to recognize the people who built its creative power.

Where the story stands now and who is being credited

Several individuals and posts helped bring the layoffs to wider attention. Lilly thanked those who shared the initial reports and highlighted the names of creative directors and artists she felt deserved public support.

As coverage continues, the debate around corporate restructuring, contractor reliance, and the use of AI in creative industries is intensifying. The fallout is prompting new conversations among lawmakers, creators, and audiences about how art is valued and protected.