On February 10, Charisma Carpenter recitation section on social media describes an emotional abuse she has seen at hands Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel showrunner Joss Whedon. Her decision to speak out came after Justice League actor Ray Fisher called Whedon last year for “full, non-verbal, unprofessional and completely inappropriate” behavior on the film set.
Many Carpenter spies offered support, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, David Boreanaz, James Marsters, Eliza Dushku, Amber Benson, and Michelle Trachtenberg. In her statement of support, Trachtenberg her own shared allegations, writing “that there was a rule [on set] says he’s not allowed in a room alone with Michelle again. “On Friday, Variety he published an exposé with interviews with predecessors Buffy and Angel crew members, describing Whedon’s toxic behavior on set.
According to an anonymous source, the rule behind Whedon not being allowed alone in the same room as Trachtenberg was due to “an inappropriate verbal exchange between Whedon and Trachtenberg.”
The sources of the piece also confirm Carpenter’s allegations. Many crew members remember the moving transition between the actress and Whedon starting early. A source described as “an individual who held a high position close to the show in his early years,” Whedon was pushed by the network to throw Carpenter against his wishes. The man remembers Whedon building on Carpenter, with some of the show’s writers following Whedon’s lead, criticizing her acting.
Another member of the team who worked closely with Carpenter on both Buffy and Angel, also reminds Whedon of being “micro-spirited” and “verbal anachronist” towards the actress. A representative also said they noticed that Whedon was even more hostile towards Carpenter while filming Angel, leading to the writing off of her character, as described by Carpenter in her own statement.
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At the time of publication, Whedon has not yet commented on the allegations.