
Former Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel actress, Charisma Carpenter, has weighed in on director Joss Whedon’s interview with Vulture Magazine.
On Martin Luther King Day, Vulture published an interview with Whedon where he “broke his silence” about accusations from the Justice League set and other productions such as Buffy. In the interview, Whedon mentioned Carpenter, Buffy costume designer Cynthia Bergstrom, writer Rebecca X, an unnamed high-level production team member from, Michelle Trachtenberg, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Amber Benson, an anonymous Firefly writer and Justice League actors Gal Gadot and Ray Fisher.
He essentially called his accusers liars and even claimed Gal Gadot didn’t understand the words that were coming out of his mouth, even though the woman speaks several languages fluently. It seems while opening his mouth and inserting his foot, he was under the impression he would gain sympathy for his actions, however, he got the exact opposite and was flamed mercilessly on Twitter.
Fisher and Carpenter took to Twitter to respond and followed up the next day to thank his supporters:
Before I get started today, I want to thank you all for lifting and supporting EVERYONE that has been negatively affected by Joss Whedon.
— Ray Fisher (@ray8fisher) January 18, 2022
I was not the first to speak out about him, but I hope to be one of the last that has to.
A>E
— charisma carpenter (@AllCharisma) January 18, 2022
Whedon referred to Fisher as “a bad actor in both senses, to which Fisher had this reply:
#IStandWithCharismaCarpenter who (like this “bad actor in both senses”) has no agency in determining matters of abuse or race, but for the influence of a White male shadow puppeteer.@NYMag and @lilapearl should be ashamed for regurgitating this nonsense.
— Ray Fisher (@ray8fisher) January 18, 2022
A>E https://t.co/GQnL9zFyty pic.twitter.com/KZRku36wNQ
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Years ago Joss Whedon was known as a feminist who was creating female-driven stories including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly.
It was also later revealed that Whedon had issues with Gal Gadot, who claimed he threatened her and said, “Joss Whedon told me he will finish my career, he told me directly that if I do something he will make sure my career will be miserable. I took care of it right away.”
In May of 2017, Zack Snyder stepped down from directing Justice League after the tragic loss of his daughter to suicide. At that time, it was also announced that Whedon, who was coming off of directing, Marvel’s Avengers and Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, would be replacing Snyder to finish the film.
Later that same summer, his ex-wife, Kai Cole clued us all into the fact that he was indeed the opposite of a feminist in her open letter that was published in The Wrap.
Fast forward to 2020 when Ray Fisher, who played Cyborg in Justice League, fired off a tweet accusing Joss Whedon of “gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable” conduct on the set of the film.
Almost immediately the hashtag “#IStandWithRayFisher” was trending and many took to Twitter to share their own Whedon horror stories, including Charisma Carpenter who played Cordelia Chase on both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the spin-off Angel for 7 years.
She accused Whedon of “retaliatory” and “cruel” behavior while she was pregnant on the set of “Angel,” and said she supported Justice League star Ray Fisher’s claims against Whedon.
Carpenter also detailed that she was part of WarnerMedia’s investigation into Whedon’s actions on the set of Justice League, following Fisher’s accusations of “gross, abusive, unprofessional” behavior against Whedon, who took over reshoots on the film when original director Zack Snyder had to exit due to a family tragedy.
Many of Carpenter’s castmates tweeted in support including Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Buffy’s sister, Dawn. Trachtenberg claimed “There was a rule. Saying. He’s not allowed in a room alone with Michelle again.”
Many more fans responded with support for Carpenter and Fisher:
work. so as a young kid, this and Joss Whedon were my stepping off stones for feminism.
— Bronte Willis (@BronteWillis) January 22, 2022
but now coming back as an adult who used Buffy to begin my academic research. there’s SO many red flag alarm bells that showcase who Joss really was
Joss Whedon took years to reflect and he’s finally ready to tell his story: “I had to do it. I was very very horny”
— Vinnie Mancuso (@VinnieMancuso1) January 17, 2022
The fact that other adults on Buffy had to make a rule that Joss Whedon wasn’t allowed to be in a room alone with then 16 year old Michelle Trachtenberg is a problem. Joss Whedon should not have gotten work after that.
— Arakki Thottie (@BlckBolex) January 17, 2022
Joss Whedon pic.twitter.com/xVByN6vgvt
— Jas ????️⚧️ | B L M (@JasTheLass) January 21, 2022
You know, I’m starting to think this Joss Whedon guy is kind of a jerk.
— Tolarian Community College (@TolarianCollege) January 20, 2022
Joss Whedon when he was hired to finish the Justice League: pic.twitter.com/CQzRJFHrkd
— Di. (@HailEternal) January 21, 2022
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Joia DaVida reports on the entertainment industry in both Chicago and Los Angeles.