Several stars of the acclaimed “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” series have spoken up today about a toxic work environment and alleged abuse of power by show creator Joss Whedon during the making of both series.
The comments follow in the wake of months of similar allegations of dismissive behaviour and abuse levelled at Whedon by actor Ray Fisher who worked with him on reshoots of 2017’s “Justice League”.
Actress Charisma Carpenter, who was a regular on both “Buffy” and “Angel,” cited the hashtag #IStandWithRayFisher along with the caption “my truth” in a two-part tweet earlier today with a written statement detailing her treatment whilst working on the series. Both parts of the tweets are included below.
Carpenter also discusses how it has affected her and how it still remains a scary prospect for whistleblowers to come forward at the cost of job security – especially for single parents like herself:
— charisma carpenter (@AllCharisma) February 10, 2021
In the wake of that posting, several of her co-stars have spoken up in support. Amber Benson who played Tara quickly spoke up on Twitter saying: “Buffy was a toxic environment and it starts at the top. Charisma is speaking [the] 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. #IStandWithRayFisher #IStandWithCharismaCarpenter”
Then, within minutes of each other, lead actress Sarah Michelle Gellar who played Buffy Summers and Michelle Trachtenberg who played her on-screen sister Dawn Summers, both posted messages on social media along similar lines.
Gellar offered the following post on Instagram: “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. 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.”
Then Trachtenberg reposted that along with the following comment on her own Instagram account: “Thank you Sarah for saying this. I am brave enough now as a 35-year-old woman… To repost this. Because. This must. Be known. As a teenager. With his not appropriate behaviour….very. Not. Appropriate.”
Clare Kramer, who played the fifth season villain Glory, also commented on Twitter saying: “For what it’s worth, I believe and stand with Charisma, Ray, Amber and others who have the strength to come forward with their truth. A lot of this industry needs a reset… #IStandWithCharismaCarpenter #IStandWithRayFisher.”
A rep for Whedon declined to comment to Variety about Carpenter’s allegations, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trachtenberg and Benson’s allegations.
