Danielle Solzman
Charisma Carpenter and Amber Benson are the latest people to speak out about their experiences working with Joss Whedon on television.
Carpenter and Benson’s comments follow Ray Fisher speaking out about his experiences working on Justice League. I want to stress first and foremost that I also stand with both Charisma Carpenter, Amber Benson, and Ray Fisher. If these three are speaking out about Joss Whedon, there is certainly no doubt that others have had similar experiences. The question is: why are other people not speaking out? I think this comes down to the fact that people still have a fear of retaliation. It’s a shame but true. I certainly had this own fear when it came to speaking out against transphobic abuse during the summer of 2017. Unfortunately, HE is STILL getting work.
Whedon’s behavior is certainly not a secret. It would also come as no surprise if other people speak out. Time will certainly tell.
Carpenter posted her comments over a two-tweet thread:
My truth. #IStandWithRayFisher pic.twitter.com/eNjYcJ6zwP
— charisma carpenter (@AllCharisma) February 10, 2021
— charisma carpenter (@AllCharisma) February 10, 2021
Following Carpenter’s tweets, castmate Amber Benson spoke out in agreement about working with Joss Whedon on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Buffy was a toxic environment and it starts at the top. @AllCharisma is speaking truth and I support her 100%. There was a lot of damage done during that time and many of us are still processing it twenty plus years later. #IStandWithRayFisher #IStandWithCharismaCarpenter https://t.co/WJAmDGm76C
— Amber Benson (@amber_benson) February 10, 2021
What makes everything about this worse is that Warner Bros. Pictures chose to remove Ray Fisher from The Flash. That’s a shame. Why should Ray Fisher be the one to suffer consequences from speaking out about his experiences working with shitty men? Shitty men in Hollywood do not deserve to have their careers protected. They do not. It is really that simple: actions must come with consequences. There have been no such consequences for the DC Films leadership. The same leadership that has no problem with racism.
Please Read.
A>E pic.twitter.com/y51qzMp7bg
— Ray Fisher (@ray8fisher) January 13, 2021
After publishing, I learned that Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Clare Kramer also posted on social media.
For what it’s worth, I believe and stand with @allcharisma, @ray8fisher, @amber_benson and others who have the strength to come forward with their truth. A lot of this industry needs a reset….. #IStandWithCharismaCarpenter #IStandWithRayFisher
— Clare Kramer (@ClareKramer) February 10, 2021
Shitty men do not deserve a free pass. Not now. Not ever. There is not a shadow of a doubt that Warner Bros. and DC Films must change their culture.
