Earlier today, Buffy and Vampire Slayer and Angel star Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase) posted a statement where she accused creator Joss Whedon of callous, abusive behavior on set, providing plenty of specifics. “He has created hostile and toxic work environments since his early career,” Carpenter wrote. “I know because I experienced it first-hand. Repeatedly.”
Whedon had been under fire for a long while now, most prominently from Ray Fisher, who played Cyborg in Justice League, which Whedon finished directing after Zack Snyder was called away due to a family emergency. Fisher accused Whedon of “gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable” behavior on set, and Carpenter was moved to make her statement in part because of his actions; she revealed that she actually participated in Warner Bros. investigation into Whedon, which the studio undertook in response to Fisher’s claims.
And now, other members of the Buffy cast are supporting Carpenter. Probably the more forceful endorsement came from Amber Benson, who played Tara on the show:
Buffy was a toxic environment and it starts at the top. @AllCharisma is speaking truth and I support her 100%. There was a lot of damage done during that time and many of us are still processing it twenty plus years later. #IStandWithRayFisher #IStandWithCharismaCarpenter https://t.co/WJAmDGm76C
— Amber Benson (@amber_benson) February 10, 2021
It sounds like Benson may have a story of her own to tell.
Claire Cramer, who played the villain Glory on the show’s fifth season, also offered her support:
For what it’s worth, I believe and stand with @allcharisma, @ray8fisher, @amber_benson and others who have the strength to come forward with their truth. A lot of this industry needs a reset..... #IStandWithCharismaCarpenter #IStandWithRayFisher
— Clare Kramer (@ClareKramer) February 10, 2021
Finally, Sarah Michelle Gellar — Buffy Summers herself — weighed in:
"While I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don’t want to forever be associated with Joss Whedon…I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out."
Whedon recently walked away from his HBO show The Nevers. While he cited exhaustion and the difficulties of making the series under pandemic conditions, the more of this that comes out, the more I think it might have been a cover for Warner Bros. asking him to leave following the results of its investigation. The studio has since hired a new showrunner.
We’ll see if anything else comes out.
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