Photo: Paul Bruinooge / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Eliza Dushku spoke in support of her Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star, Charisma Carpenter, following Carpenter’s allegations that Buffy showrunner Joss Whedon subjected her to “cruel and improper behavior on set”. Dushku, who starred as Faith in Buffy as well as your spinoff, Angel, wrote on Instagram, “CC, my heart hurts for you and I’m sorry that you have held this for so long. His post was powerful, painful and painted a picture that we will never stop seeing or knowing collectively. “Dushku continued,” I often think of the saying, ‘we are as sick as our secrets.’ Our secrets really make us sick and make us sick. “
Dushku shared that what she “personally found most valuable” is that “deep healing can only come from naming and revealing what really happened, the necessary first step (when someone is ready) to free us from our secrets, countless truths. Who kept us isolated, ashamed and held hostage. ”She goes on to say that failing to point to“ abuse of power / gender / sexual / racial ”in the entertainment industry only allows for abuse and abusive systems, and thanks Carpenter for his courage.” It all starts and will end because of courageous truth tellers like you. I admire, respect and love you ”, concludes Dushku.
Carpenter posted a long statement on Instagram on February 10, claiming that Whedon was often “stingy, derogatory about others openly and was often a favorite, pitting people against each other to compete and vie for their attention and approval” on the set of Buffy. Carpenter’s statement was itself in support of Ray Fisher, who accused Whedon of racist and abusive behavior on the set of Justice League Last July. Carpenter also detailed specific abuses she suffered during her pregnancy, noting that Whedon “asked me if I would ‘keep him’ and manipulated my femininity and faith as a weapon against me. He started attacking my character, mocking my religious beliefs, accusing me of sabotaging the show, and then fired me unceremoniously the following season, once I gave birth. “
Dushku is the latest Buffy star to go out in support of Carpenter. Amber Benson tweeted on Wednesday that “Buffy was a toxic environment and starts at the top”. Sarah Michelle Gellar also expressed support for her castmates, posting in an Instagram statement: “While I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don’t want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon.” Gellar did not specifically confirm that she had suffered emotional abuse from Whedon, but wrote, “I am with all the abuse survivors and I am proud of them for speaking.” Michelle Trachtenberg reinstated Gellar’s statement with the caption: “I am brave enough now, as a 35-year-old woman, to go over this. Because it must. Be known. Like a teenager. With your inappropriate behavior. Much. Inappropriate. Whedon has not yet responded to the claims.