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Actress Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff show Angel, accused creator Joss Whedon of “misconduct” and “abuse [of] power” on the sets of the shows.
Carpenter, in a series of tweets late Thursday, February 11, detailed Whedon’s alleged “casual cruelty,” saying the director and writer “created hostile and toxic work environments since his early career.”
Her revelations come at the heels of WarnerMedia’s probe into actor Ray Fisher’s allegations that Whedon’s “on-set treatment of the cast and crew was gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable.”
His allegations resulted in an investigation, which Carpenter participated in. He also alleged that he was later removed from a supposed appearance as Cyborg on The Flash because of his allegations.
“His firing as Cyborg in The Flash was the last straw for me. Although I am not shocked, I am deeply pained by it. It troubles and saddens me that in 2021 professionals STILL have to choose between whistleblowing in the workplace and job security,” said Carpenter.
Whedon directed the 2017 film Justice League, in which Fisher starred as Cyborg.
‘Joss was the vampire’
In her statement, Carpenter said Whedon made “ongoing, passive-aggressive threats to fire [her],” on top of calling her “fat” in front of colleagues when she was pregnant, and picking on her womanhood and faith.
She also said Whedon made her report to work at 1 am despite being pregnant and despite her doctor’s recommendations. “Due to long and physically demanding days and the emotional stress to defend my needs as a working pregnant woman, I began to experience Braxton Hicks contractions,” she said.
Carpenter said Whedon was “mean and biting, disparaging about others openly, and often played favorites, pitting people against one another to compete and vie for his attention and approval.”
Carpenter said that despite the director’s alleged abuse and harassment, “part of [her] still sought his validation.”
“I made excuses for his behavior and repressed my own pain. I have even stated publicly at conventions that I’d work with him again. Only recently, after years of therapy and a wake-up call from the Time’s Up movement, do I understand the complexities of this demoralized thinking,” she said, adding that both society and the entertainment industry “vilify the victims and glorify the abusers for their accomplishments.”
Carpenter said she wished she had spoken up sooner and “felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to Ray [Fisher] and others for remaining private about my experience with Joss and the suffering it has caused me.”
The actress said she had released her statement, still in fear that it would impact her career. “I can no longer remain silent, This is overdue and necessary. It is time,” she said.
Carpenter’s co-stars, Sarah Michelle Gellar who played Buffy, and Michelle Trachtenberg who played Dawn Summers, later released statements seemingly backing the actress.
Gellar, while not naming Carpenter, said, “I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of all of them for speaking out.”
Trachtenberg shared Gellar’s statement on Instagram, calling Whedon out for his “not appropriate behavior.”
“People know. What Joss. Did,” she wrote.
Neither Whedon nor his reps have released a statement. – Rappler.com
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