David Boreanaz Breaks Silence, Offers Charisma Carpenter His ‘Support’ in Wake of Joss Whedon Allegations
David Boreanaz has offered a pledge of public support to Charisma Carpenter, just days after his former costar detailed the “toxic” and “hostile” abuse she allegedly suffered under Buffyverse auteur Joss Whedon.
Though Carpenter — who played Cordelia Chase on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel — has alluded to her experiences with Whedon in the past, on Feb. 10 the actress posted a deeply detailed missive on social media, elaborating on her claims and recalling Whedon’s “history of being casually cruel,” his creation of “hostile and toxic work environments,” what the Angel showrunner allegedly said and did to her during her real-life pregnancy, and how she coped with it all, “at times, destructively.”
“I am here for you to listen and support you,” Boreanaz said on Twitter. “Proud of your strength.”
Soon after, Carpenter responded: “I know you’re there for me, David. I appreciate all you’ve done to demonstrate that support privately as well. Especially since Wednesday,” she wrote. “Thank you so much.”
Fellow Angel vet Amy Acker also released a statement on Twitter, which read: “I will always be proud of the work we all did on Angel. While I personally had a good and professional experience, it is heartbreaking to hear that not everyone did. I do not condone any actions that made anyone feel hurt or uncomfortable, and I offer love and support to everyone who is speaking out to tell their truths.” Julie Benz, who played Darla on both shows, meanwhile said, “My heart goes out to all victims of abuse. Sending love to my fellow Buffy and Angel survivors. I stand with you and support you.”
Carpenter went public with her abuse allegations partially in support of actor Ray Fisher. Fisher, who played Cyborg in the superhero film Justice League, has accused Whedon of, among other things, “gross, abusive, unprofessional and completely unacceptable” behavior upon picking up the directing reins from Zack Snyder.
Carpenter’s statement, in part, read: “Joss Whedon abused his power on numerous occasions while working on the sets of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. While he found his misconduct amusing, it only served to intensify my performance anxiety, disempower me, and alienate me from my peers. The disturbing incidents triggered a chronic physical condition from which I still suffer. It is with a beating, heavy heart that I say I coped in isolation and, at times, destructively.” (Read her full statement here.)
In the wake of Carpenter’s post, fellow Buffyverse alumni — including Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy), Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn), Amber Benson (Tara) and Eliza Dushku (Faith) — published their own comments in support of their former castmate.
“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 said. “I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out.”
Shortly after Gellar issued her statement, Trachtenberg reposted her TV sister’s comments alongside the following caption: “Thank you @sarahmgellar 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 behavior.” Trachtenberg later edited the post to add, “Very. Not. Appropriate. So now. People know. What Joss. Did. The last. Comment I will make on this. Was. There was a rule. Saying. He’s not allowed in a room alone with Michelle again.”
Damn, how much of a douchebag is this man for everyone to support and agree with Charisma? Joss Whedon might be the first unanimous cancellation ever.
Unanimous to who? I’m sure there’s many people who will still support him in his numerous endeavors. I’m still waiting to also hear Mr. Whedon’s perspective in this or see proof. It’s a sad situation all around and the Internet hive shouldn’t take ruining someone’s life lightly, these things so easily become pile one when it’s trendy to dig in and it’s sad to watch.
Please stop. You did this the other day and it’s tiresome. We get it: you support the abuser. Enough.
My point is, is that this poor man is getting such a bad pile on from the Internet Hive it doesn’t seem fair to continue to attack because it’s trendy to do so. I’d rather choose love than hate and everyone should be accountable for their own actions before casting judgement. I like to live in a world “off line” where likes and tweets don’t equal judge and jury and love and hope trump attacks and pile ons, where facts and evidence mean more than publicist statements for attention. That’s all!
“I like to live in a world ‘off line'”
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Feel free to start any time.
Why do you keep insisting these first-hand accounts aren’t factual or evidence?
It’s one of those things that I think has bled over from TV and film into real life, the idea that first-hand accounts are not evidence. We see it a lot in cop and lawyer shows, and the use of crime labs on shows since CSI went on the air has only made things worse. “Oh, we don’t have evidence. Only witness statements.” Well, in the law, that’s called “testimonial evidence” and it gets weighed by juries like any other evidence.
They are definitely evidence but probably the weakest form because of the unreliability of first-hand accounts (the bias, selective memory and sometimes errors)
I’ve loved Joss since early 2007 when the first episode of Buffy premiered. This breaks my heart for so many different reasons but Charisma has no reason to lie 20 years later. Joss hasn’t come out to defend himself or apologize. I don’t want this to be true but that doesn’t mean a thing.
Buffy premiered in 1997, not 2007.
“Poor man?” You’re talking about a man who thought it was funny to make women in the writers room cry, especially so when he did it twice to one person in one writers session.
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The people who are saying this aren’t random strangers. They’re people who know him a hell of a lot better than you, but you still want to throw him a pity party.
It’s not “the Internet hive.” It is literally the victims of his abuse and the people who worked with them for years. Maybe the reason people aren’t coming out to support Joss is because he’s indefensible.
Proof…….or walk! An allegation doesn’t mean a damned thing without facts. He might be guilty of being an ahole, but most actors are. Most people also hate their bosses and that very well could be the case with this . I want to learn about the specifics about his”misconduct”? I need more details and facts than your average d u m b a s s such as yourself will believe in befote I decide if something is real or not.
The cast and crew were there and know what happened. There is a reason they are rallying around Charisma. Even one of the previous writers has stated he got a thrill out of being able to make female writers cry. How many more people do you need to hear from before you believe that Joss was abusive on set? You will notice that not one person has defended him, nor has he denied any of it. He hasn’t said a word since Charisma made her statement.
It’s ironic you are whining about people being fair on behalf of a man who was anything but to his subordinates.
The fact that Anthony Head says he never saw anything means that, at the very least, the alleged abusive behavior was not a daily occurrence. All of the supportive statements are super vague and mainly just want to show they are supporting a woman’s right to tell her story.
No-one has defended JW because they’re not idiots. They can’t support JW without essentially speaking against CC, which would not be tolerated by the cancellation mob frenzy.
Most of all, there is nothing JW could say that could lessen the mob’s ferocity. If he denies it, he will be called a liar. If he apologises it will be seen as too late, insincere and he’ll be cancelled nonetheless. Look what people did to Justin Timberlake’s apology this week. Wow, the vitriol!
@Roy Maguire. Then explain SMG’s statement who was the star of the show. They are not coming out saying: Yeah. I saw him be terrible to her or he was terrible to me too. But even in their vagueness they are pretty much saying that they believe her. And don’t get me started on Justin Timberlake’s WAY TOO LATE apology. He joked about the situation after it happened and he let JJ twist in the wind all these years over something that they were both involved in. A real man would have stepped up way sooner than this. It’s been what…17 years? He can take that apology and shove it.
I haven’t heard the crew say a damned thing. Show me links to the lighting, sound guys, mics ops?cinematographers (etc) and their “overwhelming support” of Charisma. As to why Joss hasn’t said anything? Good question. And I want to hear what he has to say. That would NOT make a difference with lynch mobbers like you. You already decided!
I don’t even know who this guy is.
What I do know is everyone is entitled to a defense, moron. Welcome to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! This country is founded on that principle. This unfortunately is also the land where RUSHING TO JUDGEMENT is very popular as well as ‘jumping the band wagon’, mob rule and the flawed “majority rules” takes precedence.
Regardless of your personal feelings, when practically the entire cast has publicly named and shamed the man who made the most amazing classics, it’s hard to not believe them at there face value. I find it incredibly hard to believe that all these cast members would come out and say something, if there weren’t any truth to the allegations, why would they attack the man who practically made them the cult stars that they are, if it wasn’t true. When you add on the fact that Joss hasn’t responded to anything at all speaks volumes. I’m personally devestated that the creator of BTVS, Angel and Firefly has been accused of such heinous acts of abuse of power, collaborated by so many, there’s enough proof for me there. They wouldn’t attack him if there wasn’t anything to it, SMG states she loves being associated with Buffy but doesn’t want to be forever associated with Joss Whedon, that alone speaks volumes. I’m very concerned of the comments made by Michelle Trachtenberg, that sounds like some HIGHLY inappropriate behaviour beyond bullying IMHO. I personally support all the cast of any speed who have spoken out against him, I hope that they all get the help they need and that he gets his comeuppance. They wouldn’t all make allegations for no reason whatsoever, and as a cherry on the cake, it appears that the abuse was mainly pointed at the young female cast members, whilst the majority of the young male cast have all pretty much said the same thing, that they support their friends and colleagues, without themselves detailing abuse aimed at them, Ray Fisher aside. Considering I was such a huge fan of Whedon, this has left me gutted that someone so talented, that has produced some of the best TV and movies of all time has done something that clearly abused his power. I stand with the cast and offer my support to all involved, to all those who have suffered the abuse. Any support basically claiming they are lying/making it up, is merely another case of gaslighting and victim blaming and it’s disgusting. There are too many of the various cast members publicly supporting their friends who clearly have suffered, if there was no truth to it, then Joss would have surely replied by now and at the very least issued an apology for any behaviour that may have caused offence to anyone. In one point Emma Caulfield stated that during the filming of the fruit punch sequence in the season 5 episode The Body, that he had them on a lunch break ban until she cried a specific way????? Seriously WTF, that’s disgusting beyond belief. If it were just one or two people saying something, that could be grudges but for so many people to have spoken out about how they suffered at his hands too. Even Anthony Stewart Head (Giles) has said, how gutted he is that clearly he missed something and wishes that those suffering had come to him, that is Jon saying although he didn’t see it, he believes what his costars have said. There is plenty of proof right there alone IMO.
I stand with them all and offer my support to all crew members who suffered abuse at his hands. My support goes out to all of them.
As a huge fan of Joss Whedon’s body of work, I’m devastated, completely gutted. All I can do is send all the love and positive vibes to all involved.
Did you read what his ex-wife wrote about him 20 years ago?
How many people need to come forward before it’s good enough for you? What more do you need? Just because there’s hypothetically people out there who “support him in his numerous endeavors,” whatever that means, doesn’t make those who’ve spoken out wrong. This isn’t just some “pile on[e] (sic)” and the people who are coming forward, at professional risk, to agree/expand upon Carpenter’s original post aren’t the “Internet hive.” They’re the people who were there and to whom this also happened.
It’s interesting that you don’t seem to think direct statements given by people who worked on the show constitute proof. I wonder if you’d feel the same about the statement Whedon makes, if he ever does.
This is a pile on.
Doesn’t mean it’s not true…
If multiple stab victims stabbed all by the same perp are not “a pile on” the same is true of this. We get it. You like his work. That doesn’t mean the guy is NOT a scumbag to work for if he has an issue with you. Or if you have inside knowledge cuz you secretly worked on one of his projects by all means speak up. But since you didn’t I think you should sit down and keep your abuser approval to a minimum
But stab wounds would be evidence. So far there has been zero.
If a huge number of people are disagreeing with you, perhaps you should muster up some critical thinking skills and ask yourself if maybe…just maybe…they have a point. I’ll wait while you Google “critical thinking skills.”
A loud minority does not equal a majority.
You are truly a horrible person and yet I hope you never have to experience any kind of abuse like that and especially not have to deal with an enabler like you. That’s what you are. You’re an abuse enabler. How do you feel about that? Knowing that you’re enabling other abusers to get away with it because you’re on here dismissing what the survivors of abuse have to say about it and attacking anyone who supports them as “piling on.”
And I’m sure Lynn hopes that any nasty comments you have made to people over the course of your life are not published on social media leading to your unemployment and exile.
Just because you refuse to accept it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. The people bringing forth this information haven’t spent one second of their time caring what you think.
Yes but I do feel like the same could be said for the other perspective, yes? Just because people want to crucify a man doesn’t mean he deserves it.
1. There is quite simply no defence you can offer to justify why a grown man is not allowed to be alone in a room with a teenage girl. Absolutely none.
2. Eliza Dushku has publicly referred to Whedon as her big brother many times and has worked with him since BtVS and Angel ended, yet has offered no defence of him whatsoever.
3. It’s very clear that Whedon plays favourites, hence the differing experiences of the casts on his shoots. Despite that, none of the people who have released statements defending him, in fact Anthony Head’s was verging on a public apology for not being aware of what was going on.
slight typo, should read “none of the people releasing statements have defended or are defending him”
Actually, it would to the benefit of any man not to be allowed alone in a room with a teenage girl, just to keep things on the up-and-up. Teenage girls can get a man into a lot of trouble, in a “his-word-against-mine” situation.
I used to work at a school, which had a rule that a student and teacher weren’t to be alone in a classroom setting together. There either had to be multiple students or multiple teachers present. This rule wasn’t in place because students were lying to get their teachers in trouble, but because there were documented incidents of past teachers who had hit or otherwise abused students in one-on-one situations. Those students felt powerless to say anything given the teacher-student dynamic. Power imbalances are a huge motivator, and any attempt made to try to equal the playing field seems a smart move. I didn’t know a single teacher who didn’t welcome that rule, purely so children and their families could feel safer. None of us felt we were being personally targeted by this rule, or were grateful that we’d have this as a check against potential rumors, even though none of us had any plans to try and attempt such a thing. So don’t villainize “teenage girls” if you aren’t willing to suppose that men are equally able to get themselves in trouble via teenage girls in the same sentence.
I wasn’t villianizing anyone…I should have worded my statement differently.
Teenage girls can get a man into a lot of trouble, in a “his-word-against-mine” situation.
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Uh, wow.
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You get that the responsibility falls on the adult in these situations and not the teenager, right? ‘Cause see, they’re older, and they’re supposed to know better.
I understand that the responsiblity falls on the adult, but a chaperone should be present regardless. I wasn’t casting aspersions on MT.
I get what you’re both saying, but this was ~20 years ago when Michelle joined the show, and there wasn’t the same awareness of these types of issues that there is now, and also from the way MT’s post is worded it suggests that this rule was applied to Joss Whedon by higher ups
MT’s wording also suggests that directive came AFTER something occurred that was ‘very not appropriate’ that she doesn’t want to make public, not as some precautionary before the act statement as you seem to be implying
That is what I meant, apologies if it was unclear.
That’s garbage. I volunteered with a girl’s organization twenty years ago, and we had rules about male volunteers not being alone with a girl unless he was her father, brother, etc. The only difference between then and now is that the rule applies to adults of any gender, so saying there was no awareness of the issue twenty years ago is a cop out. There’s no excuse for doing something that caused MT to be so scared/uncomfortable that such a rule had to be implemented. Any meetings with an underage actor should have been done with the door open or with either her on-set chaperone or representation present anyway to keep them from being put in that situation. Why are underage actors pulled into unchaperoned meetings with people decades older when the purpose of a chaperone should be to keep them safe from situations like that?
You’ve obviously only read one of my posts and assumed I am a Whedon defender. I am not, his behaviour is indefensible, and you can clearly see I have already said that
Responding to your points:
1. We don’t know what that reason was. #MeToo has certainly given the green light to exposing sexual harassment or abuse but that wasn’t mentioned. Maybe he yelled at her and she got really upset? Don’t know.
2. Eiiza may just be smart enough to avoid the cancellation mob.
3. That may be right, but see Reason 2. They don’t want to be caught up in the cancellation frenzy. Do you think there wouldn’t be blowback from one of his “favourites” speaking up in defense of him? They can’t prove he didn’t say stuff to CC in private so what would they say?
Eliza Dushku JASON MENDEZ/GETTY IMAGES
Eliza Dushku is speaking out in solidarity with Charisma Carpenter after she accused Joss Whedon of “hostile and toxic” behavior while working on the hit shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.
The actress, who played Faith on Buffy and its Angel spinoff, shared a statement on Instagram in which she expressed how her “heart aches” for Carpenter. “I’m so sorry you have held this for so long. Your post was powerful, painful, and painted a picture we’ll collectively never un-see or un-know. Thank you. I hadn’t known it and I won’t forget it,” she wrote.
She sure didn’t offer any defense for him! I’ve read David’s, SMG’S, Michelle’s, James’, Amy Acker’s, pretty much most of each casts responses both from BTVS & Angel about Joss Whedon! The girl who played Tara, said she went through it as well! Yes, why would ALL of these actors & actresses that have been the abused lie about there experiences? I trust & believe everything they said about that man! I want to find his wife’s comments about him from 20 years ago. If she is confirming what the actors have been saying about him then she would know!
Stop being pig-headed. There’s no logical reason these people would make up abuse allegations against this guy if he was well-liked and a good person, they know what the risks are. The only trend here is people like you giving people like Whedon the benefit of the doubt.
and What exactly would this asshat have to say to try and justify over 20 years of his patterned toxic behavior m? This is not the first time Charisma has said what she did about Joss. There was a public feud between the two and it was well known that Joss blocked Charisma from getting acting jobs after he fired her for getting pregnant. If more than one person who worked with him over a span of decades has the same claims of someone’s character; in this case a lot of people on different projects, than what sort of “proof” do you need? In the claims of Charisma Carpenter, all you have to do is do a little 10 minute googling of what her claims were, how it lines up with what happened at that time, which by watching her behavior (real quiet) during cast interview panels, the things she alluded to and said, and then came right out and said, and for those who watched her in both Buffy and Angel have suspected before anything ever came out on the subject of Joss Whedon, is that the writing and killing off of her beloved main character on Angel- is that it made no sense. It was terrible writing, a terrible arc for her beloved character and to do it in a way that was insulting to her character and the fans of the show, had a lot of people wondering wtf happened? There was a public feud for years after the show and I almost thought at the time when they “seemed” to patch things up that Charisma was just trying to get back on Joss’s good side because her had sabotaged her from getting hired on other acting jobs. So there, if you want to spend your time continuing to “ask for proof” for days on end or spend a few minutes looking things up from the past, that’s up to you but anyone with half a brain can put the pieces together, that is why everyone is supporting Charisma Carpenter. No amount of this can be slapped with a PR’ed Spin, it’s a repeating behavioral pattern spanning decades.
WTH did he do that he couldn’t be alone with Michelle?
That is what I want yo know??? And who forced all these people to say nice things about him for years only for now them to say he is the worst that ever done it???
They say nice thing about them to keep their jobs and not ruined by the man with all the power. Times change and it is safer to tell the truth than it used to be. I really don’t understand why people can’t see that or understand that he had all the power and times are changing.
I wanna know too especially since Michelle’s post says “again”-he wasn’t allowed alone in a room with her again”.
Acker’s statement is pretty generic.
How is Amy Acker’s response generic? She didn’t have the same experience as CC, what should she do lie about it?
That’s not what generic means.
So what’s generic about her comment? Please enlighten me.
You’re right she clearly supports Joss and had a good time on set. No need for her to lie to be trendy and pile on. Good for her! Classy.
So, you think the others are all lying? Amy Acker still expressed her support for others who have had issues. At no point did she say she supports Joss. You are making an assumption. She said she doesn’t condone that sort of behavior. A person doesn’t have to either support Joss or “pile on.” She shared her experience was professional and expressed support for those with a different experience. Show me where she said she “clearly supports Joss.”
If her experience was different that doesn’t mean others wasn’t awful. Phylicia Rashad didn’t have a bad time working on The Cosby Show but that didn’t preclude Bill Cosby from being a rapist.
Yes, interesting. She makes a point of saying she had a “good and professional experience”. When you hear of a toxic work environment you think of JW being a tyrant and abusive to everybody. Obviously on the day-to-day set there were no real issues. Anthony Head corroborates this.
So we’re talking about private exchanges that created this “toxic” environment for CC, brought about mainly (in her account) by her unplanned pregnancy in the seventh year of working with him. We are not privy to the various conversations and behavior around that event, only CC’s one-sided account in her allegations.
So, yeah, Amy’s found a fine line between supporting JW and support CC.
Acker’s one of the only ones who had a continuing professional relationship with him – including into films.
Why’s Alyson Hannigan so quiet? Not a good look to be last one out of the gates, unless she’s prepping a bombshell of a statement.
It is disappointing that she, her husband and the actor that portrayed Xander have not said anything. But it is a tough situation to be in, any word you put it will be scrutinized so I hope they are just taking their time to get them right.
I think Alyson hasn’t spoken out because she probably had a good experience on set (that is possible!) and she probably doesn’t want to either a) lie to be trendy or b) say what she really feels and be bullied by the Internet Hive. Smart and classy. It’s fine if she needs to not talk for her own mental health I get it
You can have a good experience with someone and still see that that is not the case for everyone (see Amy Ackers comment). Are you saying everyone that has backed CC is lying to be trendy? If so I really feel sorry for you, you are so caught up in you love for Joss or hate for CC or women that speak out that you can’t see reality.
Multiple people across multiple projects spanning years of time have come forward. They aren’t being trendy. Being abused and then speaking out about it isn’t trendy. Geez. Do you really think that everyone has just decided to be trendy and make things up? I notice you haven’t mentioned that David Boreanaz must clearly support Joss too since he didn’t say anything about himself having a negative experience but expressed support for Charisma Carpenter. Are you really a woman who only decides that women must be lying to be trendy? What’s wrong with you?
Well I assumed it went without saying that David obviously supports joss. Many do. I also believe in supporting PEOPLE because sometimes human beings (not just women, not just men) are right and sometimes they’re wrong and everyone deserves a fair shake, you know? Wouldn’t you want a fair shake instead of a pile on if it was you, or your son? (Or daughter etc etc) Especially this situation where it’s more subjective.
It’s not a given that David supports Joss. He literally just publicly, and apparently privately as well, supported Charisma Carpenter. Again, show me where he supports Joss. You’re assuming everyone who hasn’t had a statement about a negative experience with Joss supports him. You clearly are living in your own la-la land. And, no, if my son or daughter had behaved that way, I would be the first person piling on and asking them what the h*ll they thought they were doing. Why? Because allowing that sort of entitlement and excuse making to go on is at least half of what’s wrong with humanity today. Not believing victims is probably the other half.
What is subjective to the public is not subjective to the people involved. They are knee deep into a studio investigation and for many other reasons, they don’t need to get into specifics. Joss doesn’t get support or the benefit of the doubt at this point, after this amount of time, stories and the amount of people who have spoken about him over the years. I bet you’re one of those people who thinks Prince Andrew never had sex with underage girls either.
Well Liz, If your son (our daughter!) was a tough boss and people then accused him of many horrible things I’d certainly hope you wouldn’t pile on your poor son! But I have a feeling you, as a good person, wouldn’t. (No one would!)
It’s the sad internet mob that piles on to destroy lives and careers we should be worried about, not a tough boss right? I think everyone can actually agree on that
Good lord, you’re a troll. I didn’t want to believe it at first either because they are 2 of my fave shows EVER, but after the rumours for years and now confirmation by EVERY SINGLE MAJOR ACTRESS on his 2 shows and you want to what? Justify it? Say it didn’t really happen, he didn’t mean it that way? He’s really really sorry and it won’t ever happen again?
Classic response from an abuser/one who’s been abused. Take a seat and let those who are healing to speak THEIR truth. Twit.
Not to mention Gal Gadot who has also said he was ‘unpleasant’ to work with
I don’t think it’s a given that DB supports JW even if it’s true he didn’t have a bad experience. I’ve personally had managers I didn’t have a bad experience with but I would support others if they said they did because I know their experience wasn’t mine. You don’t have to say I experienced this to believe what someone is saying is true.
Why do you keep insisting that people are lying?
The only person causing Joss Whedon trouble is Joss Whedon. He got himself into this hot water all on his own. You clearly will not listen to logic. So. I’m done giving you a comment to respond to.
When can you just leave the poor man alone though? When is enough enough Liz?
So you think his cruelty is excusable? Are you that much against someone facing the consequences of their actions?
Your main argument seems to be that it’s mean for people to point out when somebody has done something cruel that hurt them, and that everyone should just be nice to Joss Whedon even though he was awful to them.
I can tell you why Alyson is so quiet, as well as Alexis. They are godparents to Joss’ child. They were favored ones, as was Amy Acker and Nathan Fillion.
Right. So they know him as a good man and don’t want to pile on for attention you’re right! I think it’s great they do this, the godparents of his child. That’s fantastic to be classy right?
You seriously need to just stop.
Please it means nothing. The godmother of my child wound up being a psychotic drunk who went to prison and hit my sister in law with a cast iron skillet and threatened to kill me and bury me next to my dead mother. Yet another people think shes wonderful because she only shows them the face she wants them to see. Case in point Angel’s Andy Hallett was a raving drunk and drank in front of kids at conventions…didnt know his soda was 3/4 whiskey. I actually was his assistant at one and told him off when he wanted me to refill his drink at 10am..his manager stuck up for me. Yet to the fans he was great and a showman.
You’re very pathetic at this point. You have no justification in your comments. “This poor man.” “This is a pile on.” That’s an opinion, not a fact. We get it, you like Joss, and can’t separate the art, from the creator. It’s very obvious you didn’t have a clue about what’s been going on with these allegations, until news broke out of it. Just got into Buffy and Angel did you?
It took a while for David Boreanaz to finally come out in support of his fellow cast members. Whedon was outed as a douchebag misogynist by his ex-wife, Kai Cole, and Marti Noxon several years back. This is a case where one can like the collaborative results of someone’s art and intensely dislike the individual.
CC’s response made it clear that he has been in communication with her privately. These actor’s don’t owe you anything.
I think she has a point actually. He had to have known it was happening when it was actually happening. As the star, he would have had the clout at WB to help.
Well let’s not forget that Angel was unceremoniously cancelled while still a hit and the reason given publicly was it was because Joss demanded an early renewal and gave the network an ultimatum. Now that all of this is coming out, I have a feeling while that may be partially true the network knew all the rest of what was going on behind the scenes and just cut their losses
I had always heard it was because David didn’t want to continue doing the show.
I consider Buffy entertainment, not art. Let’s not pretend that all Hollywood celebrities are artists. They’re entertainers.
They have been friends for over 25 years. He doesn’t need your approval as to when he chooses to say anything. He didn’t have to even say anything publically. She knows how he felt. Stop acting as if he owed a statement just to make you happy.
You’re right. I think these statements (for the most part) are less for the people they’re directed at and more about publicly showcasing which side of this you’re on. I know that-if I was going through something like this, the personal involvement would mean a lot more to me than any public statement. That being said, it does my heart good to see that the Scooby Gang is still sticking together to fight monsters, even if this monster created them
I agree. I appreciate that CC made a point of saying he’d spoken to her directly too because I think people assume if someone hasn’t commented publicly it means they’ve done nothing which isn’t always the case.
David supported CC from the day she released her statement. In private…..like what a genuine person does first for someone they care about before releasing a “statement of support” for the entire world.
Why didn’t he support her when it was going on? Surely he had to know. As the star, he had clout.
How do you know whether he did or did not?
I’m guessing he saw nothing, like many of their actors. Interesting right?
So clearly you don’t know. Now that’s interesting.
I don’t know…all I’m getting out of this so far is that Joss Whedon is a mean, mean boss. (None of these people had the pleasure of working with Louis B. Mayer) And none of it is that new. I remember reports of skirmishes and clashes between Charisma and Joss back when Angel was still on the air. I also remember a lot of people talking about how everyone used to go to Joss’ home and have Shakespeare-reading gatherings, and how Joss was such a good boss. Carpenter was invited back to Angel and returned for an episode. Acker and Dushku followed him to other series (Dollhouse).
So, …. I dunno….
Well, there is the part where the show had to make a rule that Joss was not allowed in a room alone with Michelle Trachtenberg, for reasons Michelle Trachtenberg still can’t talk about twenty years later. Michelle Trachtenberg was a child when she worked on Buffy. Do you wish to normalize workplaces where children are not safe from abuse?
I mean, are people really that dumb that they can’t come to a logical conclusion about this? These similar stories span decades by different people on different projects, some don’t even know each other. Do people not understand the difference between “being mean” and psychological/emotional abuse? Ignorance is bliss for some very dense people I suppose.
Context is king. We weren’t privy to the conversations. We only have CC’s 20 year recollections, written for the purpose of doing Joss damage. Everyone else’s supportive statements are super vague. Don’t forget this is a TV show environment where everything is temporary. Getting your show canceled is the norm. Getting your character to continue in the way you want is not guaranteed.
I’m not saying CC is lying. I wouldn’t know. But I do understand that one-sided conversations without any context of what was said/done before/after are a slippery slope. But it’s clear CC was not happy about how things went down. Not sure why this should result in a public takedown and career cancellation for JW.
Joss Whedon made me want to be a writer when I was growing up. I was a weird kid who found a tribe (in large part) because of our shared love in his work. I can’t overstate the effect he had on my life. He was a hero of mine. Now, it’s clear that he was never a hero at all. Now, it’s clear that the sense of community that he fostered in my geeky group of friends was also used to create a horrific environment for the people who worked closest to him. It sucks and I hate it. He’s not worthy of the work he created or the fans he secured. Buffy was an icon for women. She was a voice of empowerment in a time before that was as focused an issue as it is now. The fact that her creator used the fame she brought him to prey on, harass, and intimidate women is sickening.
I wonder how much of this is attention-getting by actors whose careers have disappeared. I also wonder if Mr. Whedon will be given the courtesy of an opportunity to respond, or if this will be yet another case of “she said, therefore it must be true.”
This is not news really. Charisma has talked about this years ago and it has been known that he did not like her getting pregnant.
He has internet access does he not? He’s got the chance to say something and he’s had 25+ years to make amends and change his behaviour……..
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We’re waiting.
Hasn’t every news outlet covering thia story given him the opportunity to respond? Who else is meant to give him the opportunity? He doesn’t need permission. He’s either chooose not to based on legal advice or his own mind
How does Joss not have an opportunity to respond? Internet types were all over Ray Fisher for not giving a lot of specifics, due to the creepy Warner Media NDA culture. And, look at the Buffy actresses, no NDA constrains anyone regarding Buffy. But people seem sure that Joss has an awesome response that he isn’t being allowed to share with us.
Yes Linda I wholeheartedly agree. We must remember the loud minority isn’t a majority. People will see what’s really happening one way or another.
Their careers haven’t “disappeared. ” Many of them have continued in the sci-fi/fantasy genre. Amber, Charisma, James have all appeared on shows like Supernatural. James has also been on Torchwood and countless other fantasy shows. Charisma has appeared in Greek & more recent shows I don’t watch but mentioned in these articles. Michelle has also shown up on more youth-oriented shows. They know that coming forward with their stories can damage their careers, not benefit them. Unless someone is mentally ill, there is NO benefit to coming forward other than to finally tell the truth and to help others that are also being abused. I was a big fan of Joss too and am incredibly disappointed but I do believe his accusers. Multiple people do not “pile on” for attention, despite what L.P. says.
“Given the courtesy of an opportunity to respond”
Whedon can afford any publicist, lawyer, or spokesperson willing to represent him. He has social media platforms. He has access to studio PR machines. There is literally nothing stopping him from responding.
I don’t think this is attention-getting as such. CC has had a long-standing issue with JW for how her character ended. It is true that this is now a safer time for her to speak up, being towards the end of her career, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a real grievance.
The Ray Fisher thing obviously seemed like a good time to join the chorus. Now that she has said it, her actor-friends are somewhat compelled to show support even if in super vague terms.
JW can respond any time he likes, but I think he’s smart enough to realise no matter what he says it’s just more fuel for (his career funeral) fire.
What makes you feel like she’s nearing the end of her career?
CC is 50 now. Does a handful of one-episode appearances on TV series each year. About three years back did a couple of poorly rated small movies. Biggest film role in last decade was Expendables 2 in 2012. No comparison to the previous decade. But perhaps I mean slowing down rather than ending?
It’s a real shame, too. CC is a beautiful woman with a real comedic talent. She deserved a better career.
David doesn’t have a lot of credibility. Maybe he should “not help”.
I am not sure how David did not know what was happening…
The fact that so many are shocked by this. There were rumors about Charisma’s treatment back in Angel season 4. Fans were talking about it then, especially ones that got around to the conventions. He couldn’t out right fire her for being pregnant if it wasn’t in her contract because of maternity laws, but he could and did make life on set hell by doing his best by trying to ruin the image of a beloved character. I stopped supporting Joss then because Cordelia was the reason I watched Angel to begin with. The only reason she was brought back for a proper ending is because fans were demanding it. Joss actually had no plans at all to bring her back. Nick Brendon probably won’t say anything one way or the other as he has been in and out of jail for domestic violence and drunken conduct charges.
Nick has an addiction problem and is trying really hard to beat it, but that won’t be why he’ll stay out of it. He makes his living working on the BTVS continuation comic books. He may be giving support behind the scenes, but making a statement could blow up his life.
Others who have come out in support of Charisma are James Marsters, J. August Richards, Adam Busch, Marti Noxon and Jose Molina, a writer on Firefly who said that Whedon liked seeing if he could make the women in the writers’ room cry.
I was a huge Whedon fan, on the fan boards from the beginning and a member of Whedonesque, but I had to finally give up a few years ago when I read his ex-wife’s essay on their marriage and his infidelity – how he told her that on the Buffy set he was surrounded by beautiful, aggressive and needy young women, how powerful he felt around them and how he had had numerous affairs with cast, crew and fans over the last 15 years of their marriage. After all Whedon’s public persona as an ardent feminist, it was disappointing to acknowledge that he was just a talented creep.
From everything I have read, so many women have been treated unfairly as actors. While I am not arguing that she suffered as a result of his actions, I am just not understanding why, if things were so bad on the Buffy set, that she then went on to work with him again on Angel. Why didn’t she refuse to ever work with him again on any project? She probably had to fulfill her contract for Buffy, but that wouldn’t extend to Angel, would it? That point just doesn’t make sense to me. Did she expect him to change his behavior (good luck with that)? Calling him out for his behavior on the Buffy set at the time would have made more sense (to me).
A lot of people feel they have to “make nice” with abusers, for a whole host of reasons. And in this industry especially, where powerful people can make or break your career, if she refused to cooperate, he could’ve ruined her career. Look at what Weinstein did to numerous actresses who didn’t want to play his game over the years.
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Plus, abusers will often, at some point, pull the, “I’m so sorry, I’ve changed, I promise, really, you can trust me now” routine. And they know how to do it in a way that makes their victims believe it. I don’t know if Joss pulled that here, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he had, or if someone close to him had on his behalf.
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And then sometimes there may be other people the actor enjoys working with, to where they’ll put up with someone’s a-hole behavior in order to stay close to those they do like. Maybe it makes them feel safer or something.
The abuse CC is talking about happened on the Angel set.
This headline is so stupid. It’s only a headline because rabbit vultures think they are owed something just by watching a tv show.
“Rabbit vulture”? You know that’s not a thing, right?
And yet it clearly worked, because you clicked on it, so…
On the third season of Angel I was BG. I was delighted to be a part of things. In between takes DB was talking to three female extras. Knowing he was newly married with a wife at home I thought, I guess I can say hi quick. He seems friendly. But when I said “Excuse me, Mr Borneanaz, I am such a fan of you and Angel” he turned, looked down at me and sneered and turned back to what I now know was flirting. I didn’t know then but it’s unusual for the star of a show to talk to BG, but not for DB. He had a reputation you see. So funny he’s standing up now, imo.
Joss is immensely talented and has created universes wherein characters were interesting and relatable. Firefly, Buffy, Angel etc
That doesn’t make him a wonderful human. There’s too many voices to lightly dismiss these allegations.
Holding people accountable is necessary else same abusive behavior will continue. Sadly he wasn’t called out sooner else he may have changed for better.
Everyone is credible.
People in positions of power must be accountable because the harm they cause is significant.
He has yet to speak about it. That may be an indicator.
Think of all the lives he’s affected negatively. Careers influenced.
Appreciate his talents. However that doesn’t make him exempt from behaving like a decent person.
It’s irrelevant as to whether he’s wonderful or not. Nobody truly is. He was unfaithful in his marriage and he works in Hollywood, so bad behavior is not uncommon.
However, we’re talking about whether he created a toxic, unprofessional work environment. Multiple actors are saying his on-set environment was “good and professional” (Amy Acker), backed up by Anthony Head and others. So we’re talking about some private relationships with CC, Michelle and Ray Fisher (his current accusers). CC and Ray had conflicts over their character directions (CC because of pregnancy and Ray because of JW taking over Justice League). Michelle makes some super vague assertion about his not-appropriate behavior. Is this enough to end his career?
“Is this enough to end his career?”
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Yes. I’ve loved his work over the years, but these accounts are horrific. He should never been in charge of a cast or crew again.
*be
Gal Gadot also stated he was ‘unpleasant’ to work with and, as far as I know, he’s the only person she’s ever publicly said that about…
He wasn’t having an affair here and there with random people, he was unfaithful in his marriage with his cast members and his crew members and fans of his shows for 15 years. This is something he confessed to his wife. This goes well beyond “uncommon.”
So if you don’t agree with the person that claims they are a victim you get trashed. I seen a event where the person claimed someone mis treated them and was abusive. When the video tape came out it was clear the so called victim had selective memory issues
Do you really think having someone ask ‘so are you going to keep it?’ about your baby is something you’d be selective about remembering…seriously…
So sick of all these complaints after many years have passed. If true, not good… but why wait soooo long or con’t to work with the person??!!
Because it took the recent comments by his ex-wife and Ray Fisher for them to gain traction. And look how many people *still* leap to his defense. Who do you think would have cared in the 1990s, before #metoo?
So much love for these 2. My forever OTP.
So so far a bunch of her co-stars have come out to “support” her while not actually confirming her version of things and another has said this was not her experience on 70 episodes over years of making a TV show. I didn’t watch the show but all this coming out 20yrs later making accusations against people that either others didn’t experience on the same set or can not in any way be cohobated is getting so over the top, sick of hearing about it.
I’m a women, if someone treated me like this or tried to physically mess with me they’d be picking their balls up of the floor while I’m on the way to the nearest police station, career be damned. Maybe that’s just me, but if it was so traumatic, why splash it all over the news and drag all your former co-stars into it. This is why I stay in my Bat Cave and avoid people lol.
Ever since I heard he told Thomas Loren Lenk who played Andrew in BtVS, that his acting playing Andrew was too “Faggy”, but decided to go with it, I knew he was a douchebag. I’m finally glad that people are speaking up by telling their truths, and hope he gets blacklisted. I am a little shocked that whole others seem supportive, no one else (other than Michelle) is really confirming or sharing their bad experiences as well to collaborate Charisma’s alligations. I hope we hear more in the next coming of days. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my all time favorite show and such an amazing iconic show, but he crossed the line for what he did to my Justice League!!!
I think Amy and Sarah and Eliza had no issues with him. Same with Fillion and NPH. When they say “I stand with them, I believe them” they’re basically saying they never saw it or never cared and NPH cares so I don’t believe the inferences of Michelle.
I am so sick of these actors coming out years later to complain about alleged abuse. Why didn’t she say something back then? I loved Buffy and watched every episode and Angel too. Years of interviews where they ALL said how great Joss was. Give me a break. If the abuse was that bad, come out then and not now. These women don’t come forward because they are more concerned about their career and not getting a job instead of stopping it then for others down the road. Now her somewhat limited career is ebbing and she wants publicity. I don’t but it and I am tired of these women coming out years later. I have more support and respect for women and men who stand up at the time it is happening. That is real strength.
SMG’s so-called “support” for Charisma is anything but, so I’m tired of the media saying this. She doesn’t even mention Charisma’s name, let alone say anything about the alleged “toxic atmosphere” during Buffy. Many others have, but they pretty much blamed SMG for the toxicity. She was, according to those who were there, on site, a bitchy and vindictive diva. She fought with JW when the show folded, had a public row with him (even got Freddie in it lol). JW and others have named her as one of the primary negative influences in the cast.
Noted, now what laws did he break? As of now, this is court of public opinion, doing what most public opinion courts do . . torch there, cancel here, but what legal law consequences are on the table? If none, what is the goals/aims of the court of public opinion, to create penalties where lawful ones are not?
So just my opinion. I don’t all disbelieve what people are saying about kids. He sounds like a complete jerk and horrible cruel person who not only cheated on his wife for 15 years but treated people horribly. To ask a pregnant girl if she’s going to keep the baby is downright unprofessional and then firing her as soon as she had her baby. Regardless of how good he was at television it doesn’t give him an excuse to act like a dbag. As for those who accused I wholeheartedly believe them even if yes they could have says something years ago, carpenter especially. Though to her credit I don’t think anyone would have believed her before the times up thing. And yes think although most her coworkers stand with her the fact that some are kindav vague about it and might be only saying things to look good. Plus have to say never liked Sarah Michelle gellar. She’s always seemed a little too diva stuck on herself…am not surprised if she also was unpleasant to work with…and David although hate to think it am not surprised ie can see him being a little dbaggy as well…