LOS ANGELES 鈥� Prominent film and TV creator Joss Whedon, who faced a claim of abusive
The first and most direct allegations came from Charisma Carpenter, who said in a social media post that Whedon has a 鈥渉istory of creating toxic and hostile work environments,鈥� including the one she experienced on 鈥淏uffy鈥� and while she was pregnant.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who starred as the title character on the 1997 to 2003 series, responded to Carpenter鈥檚 post with a supportive if opaque online message of her own.
鈥淲hile I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don鈥檛 want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon,鈥� Gellar wrote. She is focused on her family and the pandemic and planned no further statements at this time, she said, adding, 鈥淚 stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out.鈥�
Representatives for Whedon didn鈥檛 immediately respond to a request for comment from the writer, director and producer.
Among Carpenter鈥檚 allegations: During her pregnancy, Whedon called her 鈥渇at,鈥� joked about firing her and, at one point, called her into a meeting during which he allegedly asked if she was 鈥済oing to keep it,鈥� apparently a reference to her pregnancy, and attacked her character and religion. She said she was 鈥渦nceremoniously fired鈥� from the role of Cordelia the following season.
Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Gellar鈥檚 sister, went on social media to thank Gellar. 鈥淚 am brave enough now as a 35 year old woman鈥�.To repost this,鈥� she wrote, and alluded to 鈥渉is not appropriate
Amber Benson, who appeared as Tara on 鈥淏uffy the Vampire Slayer,鈥� also responded to the allegations, saying in a post that the show had a 鈥渢oxic environment鈥� that started 鈥渇rom the top.鈥�
In her post, Carpenter said she was prompted to come forward after actor Ray Fisher, who was in 2017鈥檚 鈥淛ustice League鈥� as the character Cyborg, alleged last July that Whedon鈥檚
Whedon, known for his writing and directing on the first two Marvel 鈥淎vengers鈥� movies, was brought in during post-production on 鈥淛ustice League.鈥� He oversaw extensive reshoots, editing and visual effects on the film for director Zack Snyder, who had stepped aside after the death of his daughter.
Fisher said Whedon鈥檚
Parent company WarnerMedia launched investigations into the accusations, which concluded in December. The company said then that 鈥渞emedial action鈥� had been taken, but did not go into specifics.
Fisher has continued tweeting about the matter, turning his focus to DC Films President Walter Hamada, who he accused of undermining the investigation and not taking his claims seriously. Last month his character Cyborg was removed from appearing in the upcoming 鈥淔lash鈥� film, which Carpenter said was the last straw for her.
In its January statement, WarnerMedia said Fisher was offered the chance to return as Cyborg, but given his statement 鈥渢hat he will not participate in any film associated with Mr. Hamada, our production is now moving on.鈥�
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AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr contributed to this report.
Lynn Elber, The Associated Press
