Roger Ebert Defends Ryan Dunn Tweet, Says He drank, he drove, 2 people died

Ryan Dunn may be resting in peace, but spat over his death does not seem to have stopped.

Legendary film critic Roger Ebert has refused to apologize and defended his earlier comments on Twitter about dead Jackass star Ryan Dunn.

Daredevil Ryan Dunn breathed his last early Monday after a fatal car crash in Pennsylvania. During the crash, Dunn's 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 went off a road, crashed in to woods and caught fire. According to police, the accident occurred at 3 a.m. on Route 322 and New Street in West Goshen Township.

Dunn, who was identified after the crash through his tattoos and facial hair, had posted a photo on Twitter hours before his death which showed him drinking with his friends in a bar, TMZ reported.

The report fueled speculation that drinking would have been the cause for the horrific accident, which also claimed the life of a 30-year old passenger who was later identified as Zachary Hartwell of West Chester. Hartwell was working as a production assistant on the movie Jackass Number Two.

Ebert, who is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, tweeted Friends don't let Jackasses drink and drive.

The tweet sparked a controversy among Dunn's friends, well-wishers and near and dear, saying Ebert was too soon to publish a negative opinion about a person who has died just hours before.

Dunn's long-time friend Bam Margera blasted Eger through the same mode -- Twitter. Margera tweeted: About a jackass drunk driving and his is one, f**k you! Millions of people are crying right now, shut your fat f**king mouth!

He further tweeted: I just lost my best friend, I have been crying hysterical for a full day and piece of s**t roger ebert has the gall to put in his 2 cents.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was suggesting that Ebert may have made his comments too soon.

But Ebert stood by his tweet and responded insensitively to Hilton by saying Perez Hilton's readers agree with me and not with Perez about my tweet on Ryan Dunn. He drank, he drove, 2 people died.

Though Ebert was seen as insensitive and rude to make a negative comment about a dead person, some people, however, seemed to agree with the film critic.

One Michael Clarke tweeted: YOU were spot on with your tweet Roger. NOTHING was insensitive about it for it was the truth.

But, majority of them blasted Ebert for his arrogance.

A tweet from xRay Burns says: Are you so desperate that you resort to DANCING ON SOMEONE'S GRAVE? For some easy meaningless rhetoric? Ur arrogance=disgrace.

Another tweet from Jimmy Patrick said: stick to movies a**hole. You aren't privy to Dunn's autopsy. Your not f****ing God!

Whatever may be the case, Dunn's fans and Jackass crew paid tributes to the daredevil.

I don't really know what to say right now everybody because the sadness is overwhelming, but today we lost one of our own. Our brother Ryan Dunn has passed. He died in a car wreck in West Goshen, Pennsylvania, this morning at 3:00am. Goddamn that's tough to write.

As we get more info we will let you know, but right now our hearts go out to his family and to his beloved Angie. Ryan will be missed and remembered by us all. Thanks for the kind words of support everybody, Jackass crew's official statement reads.

In a tweet, fellow prankster Johnny Knoxville said, RIP Ryan, I love you buddy.

Motocross racer Carey Hart remembered Dunn, writing, You were an amazing guy and you were cut way too short. Enjoyed the times we had. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

Dunn's fans also expressed their grief on MTV.com, saying We will never forget all the laughs you gave us and Rest in peace, bro. You're pranking God now, that lucky b*****d.

We are devastated by the tragic loss of Ryan Dunn - a beloved member of the MTV family for more than a decade, Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music/Film Group, said in a statement. He made us all laugh and had the tireless enthusiastic approach to life of your favorite middle school friend. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Ryan's family and friends. The Jackass brotherhood will never be the same.

Dunn, who was born in Medina, Ohio, moved to West Chester, Pennsylvania, in his early teens. Dunn was known for his dangerous antics and practical jokes in MTV's Jackass series and movies with his long-time friend Bam Margera.

He got to fame while appearing in videos alongside his friends in the Camp Kill Yourself(CKY) Crew.

The CKY videos caught the eye of Johnny Knoxville, a like-minded prankster who became the Jackass frontman and asked to include CKY clips and new footage featuring them on Jackass, which had its premiere on MTV in 2000.

Dunn is survived by his parents, Ronald Dunn and Linda Piscitello, fiancé Lynn Dunn, and sister Angela Cuturic.