Charisma Carpenter has described as never before the “toxic” and “hostile” abuse she allegedly underwent under Buffyverse author Joss Whedon in a series of Instagram posts she wrote in part for #StandWithRayFisher.
Ray Fisher, who played Cyborg in the superhero movie Justice League, has accused Whedon, among other things, of “rude, insulting, unprofessional and completely unacceptable” behavior in taking over from Zack Snyder; the actor also claimed that DC president Geoff Johns “made possible” said behavior. WarnerMedia has commissioned an internal investigation by an outside law firm that has resulted in “corrective action” (if there are no specifically identified sanctions).
Carpenter has alluded to and to some extent detailed her own experiences with Whedon over the years (who made TVs Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel, on which they both played Cordelia Chase). But in the 830-word statement she made Wednesday morning – prompted by Fisher’s ongoing clash with Whedon and the Justice League team – she explained her claims, including what she calls Whedon’s ‘history of being casually cruel’, his creation of ‘hostile and toxic work environments’, which Angel showrunner said and reportedly did to her during her real pregnancy, and how she coped, “ sometimes destructive. ”
The carpenter’s statement appears in full below; TVLine has contacted representatives from both Whedon and 20th Television (the studio behind it Buffy and Angel) for comment.
For nearly two decades I have kept my mouth shut and even apologized for certain events that traumatize me to this day.
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Joss Whedon has abused his power multiple times while working on the sets of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Although he found his misconduct amusing, it only served to exacerbate my fear of failure, make me powerless, and alienate me from my peers. The disturbing incidents triggered a chronic physical condition that I still suffer from. It is with a beating, heavy heart that I say that I have dealt with it in isolation and sometimes destructively.
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When Ray Fisher publicly accused Joss of abusive and unprofessional behavior towards the cast and crew during reshoots at the Justice League in 2017 last summer, it bothered me. Joss has a history of being casually cruel. Since his early career, he has created hostile and toxic work environments. I know because I experienced it first hand. Repeatedly.
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Like his constant, passive-aggressive threats to fire me, which wreak havoc on a young actor’s self-esteem. And call me harshly ‘fat’ to co-workers when I was four months pregnant and weighed 126 lbs. He was mean and biting, openly disparaging others, and often playing favorites, pitting people against each other to compete and to compete for his attention and approval.
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He called me to a sit-down meeting to question and berate me about a rosary tattoo I got to help me feel more spiritually anchored in an ever-changing work climate that was affecting me physically.
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Joss intentionally declined multiple calls from my agents, making it impossible to contact him to tell him the news that I was pregnant. When Joss was finally aware of the situation, he asked to meet with me. In that closed-door meeting, he asked me if I would ‘keep it’ and manipulated my femininity and faith against me. He attacked my character, mocked my religious beliefs, accused me of sabotaging the show, and unceremoniously fired me the following season after I gave birth.
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When I was six months pregnant, I was asked to report at 1 AM after my doctor recommended shortening my working hours. Due to our long and physically demanding days and the emotional stress of having to defend my needs as a working pregnant woman, I began to experience Braxton Hicks contractions. It was clear to me that a 1 hour call was retaliation.
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I felt helpless and alone then. With another option, I swallowed the abuse and carried on. After all, I had a baby on the way, and I was the main breadwinner of my growing family. Unfortunately, all of this happened during one of the most beautiful times in the new motherhood. All that promise and joy was sucked out. And Joss was the vampire.
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Despite the harassment, part of me was still seeking his confirmation. I made excuses for his behavior and suppressed my own pain. I even publicly stated at conventions that I would work with him again. Only recently, after years of therapy and a wake-up call from the Time’s Up movement, have I come to understand the complexity of this demoralized thinking. It is impossible to understand the psyche without putting up with the abuse. Our society and industry slander the victims and glorify the abusers for their achievements. Responsibility lies with the abused with the expectation that they will accept and adapt to be employable. No accountability to the offender who proceeds unharmed. Unrepentant. Relentless.
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These memories and more have impressed my soul like stones for almost half of my life. I wish I said something earlier. I wish I had had the calm and the courage all those years ago. But I muffled myself in shame and conditioned silence.
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As the tears well, I feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility to Ray and others for staying private about my experience with Joss and the distress it has caused me. It’s abundantly clear that Joss has persisted in his damaging actions and continues to cause wreckage in his wake. I now hope, by finally coming up about these experiences, to create space for the healing of others who I know have experienced similar serial abuse of power.
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I recently took part in WarnerMedia’s Justice League investigation because I believe Ray is an honest person who tells the truth. His firing as Cyborg in The Flash was the last straw for me. Although I am not shocked, it hurts me deeply. It worries and saddens me that in 2021 professionals STILL have to choose between whistleblowing in the workplace and job security.
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It took me so long to muster the courage to make this statement in public. The seriousness of it has not lost on me. As a single mother whose family depends on my profession for a living, I fear. Despite my dear about its impact on my future, I can no longer remain silent. This is too late and necessary. It’s time.”
Amber Benson, who played Tara Buffy, echoed Carpenter’s general sentiment, saying on Twitter:Buffy was a toxic environment and it starts at the top. @AllCharisma is telling the truth and I support her 100%. Much damage has been done during that time, and many of us are still dealing with it twenty years later. “
Again, TVLine has reached out to representatives for both Whedon and 20th Television for comment.