Filmmaker Joss Whedon has tweeted a crude joke about US politician Paul Ryan, saying he wants the man killed in a particularly nasty way.
The Avengers director caused outrage with the message, which appears without context, is sexually violent in nature and is directed at the Republican House of Representatives Speaker's account.
"Violence solves nothing. I want a rhino to f**k @SpeakerRyan to death with its horn because it's FUNNY, not because he's a #GOPmurderbro," Whedon stated on Twitter.
It's the latest example of the Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator taking to Twitter to express his concern at the political direction of the US.
Last week, Whedon published an image suggesting Nicole Kidman was a puppet of Donald Trump's after she said people need to support the US President-elect.
"[Mr Trump is] now elected and we, as a country, need to support whoever is the president," the Eyes Wide Shut star said in an interview.
"That is what the country is based on. And however that happened, it happened, and let's go."
Whedon, 52, has an estimated net worth of US$100 million and was an outspoken supporter of Hillary Clinton during last year's US election campaign.
Shortly before the tweet joking about Mr Ryan's death, Whedon had retweeted an image of the House Speaker at a town hall meeting where he addressed questions over the repealing of the Affordable Care Act.
Whedon's tweet has triggered several responses, many questioning his judgement in publishing it and others saying it reinforced negative views conservatives hold about liberals.
Newshub.
