Joss Whedon cornered by 'Buffy' cast supporting Ray Fisher's allegations
What's the story
Former MCU director Joss Whedon is facing the music after several colleagues of his successful drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer are joining guns with DC alum Ray Fisher over Whedon's alleged on-set toxicity. The slew of allegations started to snowball after Buffy actress Charisma Carpenter blamed Whedon for several forms of toxicity, including a heartless remark during her pregnancy while the show continued.
Abuse
Whedon forced a 1:00am call time for a pregnant Carpenter
Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and spinoff Angel, tweeted on Wednesday to narrate her trauma with showrunner Whedon. Putting the caption #IStandWithRayFisher, Carpenter wrote that when Whedon knew she was pregnant, he asked if she was "going to keep it." She did, and Whedon allegedly put her on a 1:00 am daily reporting schedule, making her experience Braxton Hicks contractions.
Twitter Post
Carpenter detailed her version of abuse on Twitter
My truth. #IStandWithRayFisher pic.twitter.com/eNjYcJ6zwP
— charisma carpenter (@AllCharisma) February 10, 2021
Supporting survivors
Castmates and stuntpersons follow suit
This prompted Carpenter's castmates and stuntpersons to fire up the debate on Whedon's feminist stances. Sarah Michelle Gellar aka Buffy soon tweeted neutrally, standing with Whedon's abuse survivors as she wrote, "I don't want to be forever associated with Joss Whedon." Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn Summers) shared Gellar's post, adding Whedon wasn't allowed to be in a room alone with her, without going into details.
Making writers cry
The blame snowballs as writers call out Whedon's attitude
Eliza Dushku (Faith), Emma Caulfield (Anya), and J August Richards (Charles Gunn on Angel) supported Carpenter on social media. James Marsters (Spike) shared his encounter on a podcast with Michael Rosenbaum, detailing how Whedon backed him against a wall, saying, "I don't care how popular you are, kid, you're dead." Firefly writer Jose Molina tweeted about Whedon's amusement with making female writers cry.
Twitter praise
Fisher praises Carpenter for speaking up
Whedon has remained silent over the allegations and had suspiciously stepped down from HBO's show The Nevers in November 2020. But Fisher praised Carpenter's stance as he tweeted, "Charisma Carpenter is one of the bravest people I know. I am forever grateful for her courage and for her lending her voice to the Justice League investigation." This doesn't bode well for Whedon, feel insiders.
Deafening silence
Whedon's silence will cost dearly, feel industry insiders
Eric Schiffer, Reputation Management Consultants' CEO, said investigations will follow Whedon's current brand, which is an "egomaniacal dumpster fire of toxicity." Maintaining how he'd treat Whedon's code of conduct if he were his client, Schiffer said, "Staying silent in this situation is like acting as a pilot on the Hindenburg, it's lethally stupid. He might as well write 'guilty' in lipstick across his forehead."