David Boreanaz is the latest star to speak out amid a scandal involving Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, pledging his support for co-star Charisma Carpenter after she said Whedon fostered a ‘hostile and toxic environment’ on the set of the 90s hit.
‘I am here for you to listen and support you,’ the Philadelphia native, 51, who portrayed Angel on Buffy from 1997-2003 and the spin-off Angel from 1999-2004, said on the site. ‘Proud of your strength.’
Carpenter, 50, replied Sunday, ‘I know you’re there for me, David. I appreciate all you’ve done to demonstrate that support privately as well. Especially since Wednesday … thank you so much.’
The latest: David Boreanaz, 51, is the latest star to speak out amid a hostile workplace scandal involving Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, 56, pledging his support for co-star Charisma Carpenter, 50, after she described how she felt Whedon fostered a ‘hostile and toxic environment’ on the set of the 90s hit
Boreanaz was the latest person to chime in after Carpenter said Wednesday that she supported actor Ray Fisher, 33, who claimed last summer that ‘Whedon’s on-set treatment of the cast and crew of Justice League was gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable.’
Carpenter shared a two-page account of her own working experience with Whedon, 56, playing Cordelia Chase on 57 episodes of Buffy from 1997-2002.
Among Carpenter’s claims was that Whedon had called her fat during a time she was expecting a child, and asked her if she was planning to keep her child in a private meeting.
Whedon ‘proceeded to attack my character, mock my religious beliefs, accuse me of sabotaging the show, and then unceremoniously fired me the following season once I gave birth,’ Carpenter said in the post.
Carpenter said that Whedon ‘has a history of being casually cruel’ and misused his power in manipulating people on the set of the TV show.
The Philadelphia native, 51, portrayed Angel on Buffy from 1997-2003 and the spin-off Angel from 1999-2004
Carpenter replied with a warm message for her co-star on the series
Carpenter claimed that Whedon (pictured in 2019) had called her fat during a time she was expecting a child, and asked her if she was planning to keep her child in a private meeting
‘While he found his misconduct amusing, it only served to intensify my performance anxiety, disempower me, and alienate me from my peers,’ Carpenter said. ‘The disturbing incidents triggered a chronic physical condition from which I still suffer.’
The actress said she ‘felt powerless and alone’ but ‘swallowed the mistreatment and carried on’ amid the imbalance of power.
She said in the post that she was involved in the probe of Whedon by Warner Bros. stemming from Fisher’s complaints, with the studio saying that ‘remedial action’ had been taken as result of the investigation.
‘It troubles and saddens me that, in 2021, professionals still have to choose between whistleblowing in the workplace and job security,’ she said. ‘As a single mother whose family’s livelihood is dependent on my craft, I’m scared.
‘Despite my fear about its impact on my future, I can no longer remain silent. This is overdue and necessary. It’s time.’
Carpenter last week shared a two-page account of her own working experience with Whedon
A look back: Charisma played Cordelia Chase on 57 episodes of Buffy from 1997-2002
Buffy’s titular star Sarah Michelle Gellar posted a message of support in the wake of Carpenter’s claims
Buffy’s titular star Sarah Michelle Gellar posted a message of support in the wake of Carpenter’s claims.
‘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 wrote. ‘I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out.’
The show’s Michelle Trachtenberg and Amber Benson also posted messages in unity with Carpenter.