Joss Whedon, TV’s writer and director Buffy the Vampire Slayer and movies like The Avengers, was again accused of improper behavior on a set.
Actress Charisma Carpenter, who worked with him on both Buffy and the spinoff Angel, on Wednesday accused Whedon of creating “toxic and hostile work environments” over the years. She detailed her alleged mistreatment, especially during pregnancy.
Although Whedon’s team did not respond to Yahoo Entertainment’s request for comment, it has denied such allegations in the past.
Below is an analysis of the officials’ charges against Whedon last year and the consequences.
June 29, 2020: Ray Fisher calls Whedon’s behavior Justice League ‘unacceptable’
On social media, Fisher says he would like to “forcibly withdraw” a complimentary statement he made about Whedon when promoting his 2017 superhero movie Justice League. Whedon rewrote the film and assumed the role of director after the original filmmaker, Zack Snyder, left.
Fisher describes Whedon’s behavior during production as “rude, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable. “(He also accuses others of enabling Whedon, which has been refuted.)
The treatment on Joss Wheadon’s set of the cast and crew of the Justice League was crude, abusive, unprofessional and completely unacceptable.
It was empowered, in many ways, by Geoff Johns and Jon Berg.
Responsibility> Entertainment
– Ray Fisher (@ ray8fisher) July 1, 2020
August 2020: WarnerMedia launches an investigation into ‘Justice League’ allegations
A company source said Variety that WarnerMedia is formally examining the film’s production amid Fisher’s claims. This happens as Fisher continues to talk about it, with the actor saying his career has been threatened because of his stance.
September 2020: Jason Momoa publicly supports Fisher
Fisher’s Justice League co-star simply writes that he is behind Fisher on social media. He elaborates later that month: “THIS SHIT HAS TO STOP AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT @ ray8fisher AND ALL OTHERS THAT EXPERIENCED WHAT HAPPENED UNDER THE @wbpictures WATCH NEEDS A PROPER INVESTIGATION.” He claimed that a casting ad about him in another film had been advertised as a way to distract everyone from the “shitty way we were treated in the Justice League remakes”. He added: “Serious things have happened. This needs to be investigated and people need to be held accountable.”
September 2020: Fisher and WarnerMedia return to discuss investigative justice
The entertainment conglomerate and Fisher differ in the fairness and effectiveness of the investigation, such as who is interviewed.
“@wbpictures conveniently avoided contacting important witnesses who gave strong statements to WB’s HR”, Fisher’s tweets September 14th. “They also initiated interviews with (and have since fantasized) witnesses that involved former and current senior executives. Others (including an implicated individual who called me to apologize) have already been interviewed. We will not allow ANY investigator to choose the respondents who best fit the false narrative and scapegoat efforts of @wbpictures. Everyone with stories WILL be heard! “
Warner Media, meanwhile, which previously denied Fisher’s accusations, says he did not cooperate with the company’s investigation. (He says he met with the investigators.)
October 29, 2020: Fisher becomes specific
On a Forbes In an interview, Fisher says he knew that Whedon tried to digitally change an actor’s skin tone during post-production, and that’s what led him to speak out against the director.
Whedon says it didn’t. “The individual who made this statement acknowledged that it was just something he had heard from someone else and accepted as true, when in fact a simple survey would prove it to be false,” he says. “As is standard in almost all films, there were several people involved in mixing the final product, including the editor, special effects person, composer, etc. with the senior colorist responsible for the tone, colors and mood of the final version. This process it was even more complicated in this project due to the fact [original director] Zack [Snyder] filmed on film, while Joss was filming in digital, which required the team, led by the same senior colorist who had worked on previous films for Zack, to reconcile the two.
November 25, 2020: part of Whedon The Nevers
Amid the allegations, the Buffy creator says he is saying goodbye with his expected return to TV, HBO’s science fiction series The Nevers. “This year of unprecedented challenges has impacted my life and perspective in ways I could never have imagined, while developing and producing The Nevers it’s been a joyful experience, I realize that the level of commitment needed to move forward, combined with the physical challenges of putting on such a big show during a global pandemic, is more than I can handle without the work starting to suffer ” , he says in a statement. “I am genuinely exhausted and I am returning to apply my martial energy towards my own life, which is also on the verge of exciting change. I am deeply proud of the work we do; I am grateful to all my cast and extraordinary collaborators and to HBO for the opportunity to shape yet another strange world. The Nevers it is a true labor of love, but after two more years of work, love is all I have to offer. It will never go away. “
December 11, 2020: Results of Whedon ‘Justice League’ investigation released
“WarnerMedia’s investigation of the Justice League film was completed and corrective measures were taken, “the company said in a statement to Variety. There is no explanation for “corrective action”.
Fisher says it was said, “WarnerMedia thanks you for having the courage to introduce yourself and help the company create an inclusive and equal work environment for its [sic] employees and partners. “
The following was relayed to me on behalf of @WarnerMedia at 5 pm EST today:
– The Justice League investigation is complete.
– This led to corrective action.
(Some we have seen and some that are yet to come.)1/3
– Ray Fisher (@ ray8fisher) December 12, 2020
“There are still conversations that need to be held and resolutions to be found,” he writes. “Thank you all for the support and encouragement on this journey. We are on our way.”
The good vibes between Fisher and WarnerMedia do not last, however. He tells the company in December that he will not reprise his character Cyborg in an upcoming film if executive Walter Hamada remains in office. He calls Hamada a “facilitator”.
February 10, 2021 Charisma Carpenter speaks against Whedon
In a long message, Carpenter accuses Whedon of having created “hostile and toxic work environments”. She says he made “continuous and passive threats to fire her” and called her “fat” when talking to other people. She says that after becoming pregnant, she was abused and ended up being discharged from the program.
“At six months pregnant, I was asked to report to work at 1 am, after my doctor recommended shortening my working hours,” says Carpenter. “Due to the long and physically demanding days and the emotional stress of having to defending my needs as a pregnant job, i started to feel contractions from Braxton Hicks. “
On the same day, ex-carpenter Buffy co-stars, including Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg, support her with statements of her own.
“Although I’m proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don’t want to be associated with Joss Whedon forever,” says Gellar. She noted that she supported all survivors of abuse and was “proud of them for speaking out”.
Trachtenberg replaces Gellar’s message, but she also added her own.
“Thank you @sarahmgellar for saying this. I am brave enough now, as a 35-year-old woman … to go over this,” said Trachtenberg. “Because. That must. Be known. As a teenager. With his inappropriate behavior … a lot. Not. Appropriate. So now. People know. What Joss. Did. The last. Comment I will make about it. There was a rule. Saying. He can’t be alone with Michelle again. “
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