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Actress Charisma Carpenter has accused Joss Whedon, creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” of being verbally abusive and creating a toxic work environment during her seven years of working with the director.
Joining Justice League star Ray Fisher in speaking out against Whedon, Carpenter detailed his allegations Wednesday in a social media statement. She explained that she participated in a WarnerMedia investigation into Whedon, calling the famous director “casually cruel.”
“These memories and many more have weighed on my soul like bricks for almost half of my life,” said Carpenter. “I would have liked to say something earlier. I wish I had the calm and the courage all those years ago. But I choked on shame and conditional silence.
Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and its spin-off “Angel,” said Whedon’s behavior triggered a “chronic physical condition that I still suffer from.” The actress alleged that Whedon had “continually” threatened to fire her, made fun of her for her religious beliefs and called her fat during her pregnancy.
She also accused Whedon of firing her from “Angel” once she gave birth, an unexpected character departure fans have speculated on for years. She alleged that Whedon once asked her to go to bed at 1 a.m. while she was six months pregnant, despite her doctor’s recommendation, which triggered fake labor pains.
Carpenter said that although she was afraid to speak out against Whedon, she felt an “overwhelming sense of responsibility” for Fisher speaking publicly.
“It is quite evident that Joss persisted in his harmful actions, continuing to create wreckage in his wake,” Carpenter said. “My hope now, in finally bringing up those experiences, is to create a space for the healing of others who I know have suffered similar abuses of power in series.
Fisher shared Carpenter’s statement on her own social media, calling the actress “one of the bravest people I know.”
“I am eternally grateful to him for his courage and for lending his voice to the Justice League investigation,” he wrote. “Read his truth. Share its truth.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played Buffy for seven years, said in an Instagram statement on Wednesday that she stood by “all abuse survivors” and was proud of them for taking the speech.
“While I’m proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don’t want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon,” Gellar wrote.
Michelle Trachtenberg, who joined the show in its fifth season as Buffy’s younger sister, posted Gellar’s statement on her own Instagram profile to thank the star for her statement.
Trachtenberg captioned the repost, noting that she is “brave enough now” at the age of 35 to comment on the issue of Whedon’s behavior. She was 15 when she started her role in the series.
“We know what he did,” Trachtenberg said in an Instagram story. “In the wings.”
Amber Benson, who was on the show for two seasons, also tweeted her support for Carpenter and said “Buffy” was a “toxic environment”.
“@AllCharisma is telling the truth and I support it 100%,” Benson said. “There has been a lot of damage during that time and many of us are still dealing with it twenty years later.”
Neither WarnerMedia nor Whedon immediately responded to an NBC News request for comment on Wednesday.
Fisher, who played Cyborg in the 2017 movie “Justice League,” accused Whedon of abusive and unprofessional behavior last year on social media. He also said that two producers allowed Whedon, who was brought into the film for covers due to a family tragedy that forced original director Zac Snyder to walk away from the project.
Fisher told Forbes in an October interview that he would detail his charges in more detail after the conclusion of an investigation by WarnerMedia.
“Running was just one of the issues with the photo retake process,” said Fisher. “There have been massive explosions, threats, coercion, taunts, unsafe working conditions, denigration and gas fires like you wouldn’t believe.
Representatives for Whedon have denied Fisher’s only accusation that he digitally altered the complexion of an “actor of color,” according to The Independent. Whedon has not made a statement or spoken publicly about the accusations of an abusive work environment.
Last month, Fisher said he was “removed” from the studio’s upcoming film, “The Flash,” because DC Films president Walter Hamada intervened in the investigation into his allegations.
“No one in any profession should have to argue with their employer over allegations of abuse, racism and discrimination to get back into the proper chain of command,” Fisher said in January. “And no one in any capacity should attempt to dissuade those who wish to report such allegations from doing so.”
WarnerMedia denied Fisher’s characterization of leaving “The Flash” in a statement to Variety. The company also denied that there was any impediment to the Justice League investigation, which it said ended in December.
The company did not detail the results of the investigation but said “corrective action” had been taken, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
“Last summer, Mr. Fisher was offered the opportunity to reprise his role as Cyborg in ‘The Flash’,” the statement said. “Given his statement that he will not be participating in any films associated with Mr. Hamada, our production is moving forward now.”
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