Charisma Carpenter — series regular on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel — has come forward with accusations of workplace misconduct against filmmaker Joss Whedon in the wake of similar allegations from Justice League star Ray Fisher.
"For nearly two decades, I have held my tongue and even made excuses for certain events that traumatize me to this day," Carpenter wrote in a lengthy statement posted to her various social platforms today.
Carpenter went on to detail numerous occasions of abusive behaviour from Whedon, including his "casually cruel" nature onset, calling her "fat" when she was four months pregnant and asking her if she intended to "keep" the baby, attacking her faith in a "closed-door meeting," and firing her after she gave birth.
"[Whedon] has created hostile and toxic work environments since his early career. I know because I experienced it first-hand. Repeatedly," she wrote.
"Unfortunately, all this was happening during one of the most wonderful time[s] in new motherhood," Carpenter added. "All that promise and joy sucked right out. And Joss was the vampire."
Carpenter also expressed solidarity with Fisher in her statement, revealing that she had participated in the Warner Media investigation that was launched after his allegations of abuse on the set of Justice League surfaced last year.
"Our society and industry vilify the victims and glorify the abusers for their accomplishments," Carpenter continued. "The onus is on the abused with an expectation to accept and adapt to be employable. No accountability on the transgressor who sails on unscathed. Unrepentant. Remorseless."
She added: "Despite my fear about its impact on my future, I can no longer remain silent. This is overdue and necessary. It is time."
UPDATE (2/10, 1:50 p.m. ET): BTVS actress Amber Benson has also come forward with a statement in support of Carpenter's allegations: "Buffy was a toxic environment and it starts at the top. [Charisma Carpenter] 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."
UPDATE (2/10, 3:15 p.m. ET): Sarah Michelle Gellar has offered a statement in the wake of Carpenter's claims: "While I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don't want to be forever associated with Joss Whedon. I am more focused on raising my family and surviving a pandemic currently, so I will not be making any further statements at this time. But I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out."
UPDATE (2/10, 4:41 p.m. ET): Michelle Trachtenberg and Clare Kramer have also thrown their support behind Carpenter.
See Carpenter's full statement below.
"For nearly two decades, I have held my tongue and even made excuses for certain events that traumatize me to this day," Carpenter wrote in a lengthy statement posted to her various social platforms today.
Carpenter went on to detail numerous occasions of abusive behaviour from Whedon, including his "casually cruel" nature onset, calling her "fat" when she was four months pregnant and asking her if she intended to "keep" the baby, attacking her faith in a "closed-door meeting," and firing her after she gave birth.
"[Whedon] has created hostile and toxic work environments since his early career. I know because I experienced it first-hand. Repeatedly," she wrote.
"Unfortunately, all this was happening during one of the most wonderful time[s] in new motherhood," Carpenter added. "All that promise and joy sucked right out. And Joss was the vampire."
Carpenter also expressed solidarity with Fisher in her statement, revealing that she had participated in the Warner Media investigation that was launched after his allegations of abuse on the set of Justice League surfaced last year.
"Our society and industry vilify the victims and glorify the abusers for their accomplishments," Carpenter continued. "The onus is on the abused with an expectation to accept and adapt to be employable. No accountability on the transgressor who sails on unscathed. Unrepentant. Remorseless."
She added: "Despite my fear about its impact on my future, I can no longer remain silent. This is overdue and necessary. It is time."
UPDATE (2/10, 1:50 p.m. ET): BTVS actress Amber Benson has also come forward with a statement in support of Carpenter's allegations: "Buffy was a toxic environment and it starts at the top. [Charisma Carpenter] 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."
UPDATE (2/10, 3:15 p.m. ET): Sarah Michelle Gellar has offered a statement in the wake of Carpenter's claims: "While I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don't want to be forever associated with Joss Whedon. I am more focused on raising my family and surviving a pandemic currently, so I will not be making any further statements at this time. But I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out."
UPDATE (2/10, 4:41 p.m. ET): Michelle Trachtenberg and Clare Kramer have also thrown their support behind Carpenter.
See Carpenter's full statement below.
