Joss Whedon Faces Allegations of Actress Buffy Creating “Toxic” Work Environments | Ents & Arts News

Joss Whedon, who is behind projects such as Justice League and Agents of SHIELD, has been accused of creating “toxic and hostile work environments” by a Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress.

Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase in the supernatural drama, also said that Whedon, who created the show, was responsible for “continuing, passive-aggressive threats” to fire her during her time on the show.

One of his allegations is that he called her “fat” when she was four months pregnant, adding that he asked if she “was going to keep her” in a meeting – apparently a reference. to his character and his religion.

Carpenter says she was “unceremoniously fired” the following season.

She said she was inspired to speak up after actor Ray Fisher, who was in the Justice League in 2017 as the character of Cyborg, alleged last July that Whedon’s behavior towards actors and the team was “abusive, unprofessional and unacceptable”.

Whedon was brought in during post-production on Justice League. He oversaw numerous covers, editing and visual effects of the film for director Zack Snyder, who retired after his daughter’s death.

Writing on Instagram, Carpenter said, “Joss Whedon abused his power on numerous occasions while working together on the sets for Buffy The Vampire Slayer and [spin-off] Angel.

“Although he found his misconduct amusing, it only intensified my performance anxiety, discouraged me and distanced me from my peers.

“The disturbing incidents triggered a chronic physical condition from which I still suffer.

“It is with a heavy, pounding heart that I say that I have managed in isolation and, at times, destructively.”

She also said she received therapy to deal with the “complexities of this demoralized thinking,” adding that she was inspired by the Me too movement.

Sarah Michelle Geller, who starred in the series, responded to the claims on her Instagram page, saying, “While I’m proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don’t want to be associated with Buffy Summers forever. name Joss Whedon.

“I’m more focused on educating my family and surviving a pandemic right now, so I won’t be making any further statements at this time.

“But I stand with all of the survivors of abuse and I am proud of them for speaking out.”

Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Geller’s sister in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, took to social media to thank her onscreen brother, saying, “I’m pretty brave now as a 35-year-old woman … to repost that. “

She also alluded to “her inappropriate behavior” that she experienced as a teenage actor.

Whedon, who directed two of the Avengers movies and created the Firefly show, was approached for comment, with a representative saying he had no response to the allegations.