Actress Charisma Carpenter 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 to speak out against Whedon, Carpenter detailed his allegations on Wednesday in a social media statement. She explained that she participated in a WarnerMedia investigation of Whedon, calling the famous director “casually cruel”.
“These memories and more have weighed on my soul like bricks for almost half my life,” said Carpenter. “I wish I had said something earlier. I wish I had the composure and courage all those years ago. But I moved away from shame and conditional silence. “
Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and its derivative “Angel”, said Whedon’s behavior triggered a “chronic physical condition that I still suffer from”. The actress claimed that Whedon made “continuous” threats to fire her, mocked her for her religious beliefs and called her fat during pregnancy.
She also accused Whedon of firing her from “Angel” as soon as she gave birth, an unexpected character departure that fans have speculated on for years. She claimed that Whedon once asked her to make an appointment for 1 am when she was six months pregnant, despite the doctor’s recommendation, which triggered false labor pains.
Carpenter said that while she was afraid to speak out against Whedon, she felt an “enormous sense of responsibility” for Fisher to speak publicly.
“It is quite evident that Joss persisted in his damaging actions, continuing to create debris in his wake,” said Carpenter. “My hope now, when I finally present these experiences, is to create space for the healing of other people that I know have experienced similar abuses of power in series.”
Fisher shared Carpenter’s statement on his own social media, calling the actress “one of the most courageous people I know”.
“I will be forever grateful for your courage and for lending your voice to the Justice League investigation,” he wrote. “Read her truth. Share the truth of it. “
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played Buffy for seven years, said in a statement posted on Instagram on Wednesday that she is with “all survivors of abuse” and is proud of them for speaking.
“Although I’m proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don’t want to be associated with the name Joss Whedon forever,” wrote Gellar.
Michelle Trachtenberg, who joined the show in her fifth season as Buffy’s younger sister, posted Gellar’s statement on her own Instagram profile to thank the star for her statement.
Trachtenberg put the republication caption on, noting that she is “brave enough now” at 35 to comment on Whedon’s behavior. She was 15 when she started her role on the series.
“We know what he did,” said Trachtenberg in an Instagram story. “Behind the scenes.”
Amber Benson, who has been on the show for two seasons, tweeted her support for Carpenter as well and said “Buffy” was a “toxic environment”.
“@AllCharisma is telling the truth and I support it 100%,” said Benson. “A lot of damage was done during that time and many of us are still suing it more than twenty years later.”
Neither WarnerMedia nor Whedon responded immediately to a request for comment from NBC News on Wednesday.
Fisher, who played Cyborg in the 2017 film “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 remake due to a family tragedy that forced original director Zac Snyder to step away from the project.
Fisher told Forbes in an interview in October that he would detail his accusations in more detail after an investigation by WarnerMedia concluded.
“The race was just one of the problems with the remake process,” said Fisher. “There were massive explosions, threats, coercion, insults, unsafe working conditions, depreciation and gas lighting like you would not believe.”
Whedon’s representatives denied Fisher’s only charge that he digitally altered the skin tone of an “actor of color,” according to The Independent. Whedon did not make a statement or speak publicly about the allegations of an abusive work environment.
Last month, Fisher said he had been “removed” from the studio’s next film, “The Flash”, because DC Films president Walter Hamada interfered in investigating his claims.
“No one, in any profession, should have to argue with their employer over allegations of abuse, racism and discrimination to be taken over by the appropriate chain of command,” Fisher said in January. “And nobody, in any leadership position, should try to dissuade those who wish to report such allegations.”
WarnerMedia denied Fisher’s characterization of his departure from “The Flash” in a statement to Variety. The company also denied that there is any impediment to the investigation of the “Justice League”, which it said it concluded in December.
The company did not detail the results of the investigation, but said “corrective action” had occurred, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
“Last summer, Mr. Fisher had the opportunity to repeat his role as Cyborg in ‘The Flash’,” said the statement. “Given his declaration that he will not participate in any film associated with Mr. Hamada, our production is advancing.”