'Joss was the vampire': Sarah Michelle Gellar, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' stars, fans support Charisma Carpenter after Joss Whedon accusations
Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans and show's lead Sarah Michelle Gellar have come out in support of Charisma Carpenter who detailed the "toxic" misconduct of the show's creator Joss Whedon.
"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's response reads.
"I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out."
Earlier on Wenesday Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, posted a message on social media stating that Whedon "abused his power" on the set of both shows, including "passive-aggressive threats" to fire her and calling Carpenter "fat" to colleagues when she was four months pregnant. She also accused Whedon of calling a meeting with her to "interrogate and berate" Carpenter about a rosary tattoo.
Carpenter was fired from Angel once she gave birth to her son in 2003.
"For nearly two decades, I have held my tongue and even made excuses for certain events that traumatize me to this day," Carpenter's statement reads. "Joss was the vampire."
"These memories and more have weighed on my soul like bricks for nearly half of my life. I wish I said something sooner. I wish I had the composure and courage all those years ago. But I muted myself in shame and conditioned silence."
Carpenter's message comes after actor Ray Fisher said Whedon's treatment of the cast and crew of the set of the 2017 film Justice League was "gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable."
Charisma Carpenter is one of the bravest people I know.
I am forever grateful for her courage and for her lending her voice to the Justice League investigation.
Read her truth.
Share her truth.
Protect her at all costs.
“It is time.”
A>E#IStandWithCharisma https://t.co/XcT8OnAfbV— Ray Fisher (@ray8fisher) February 10, 2021
Fisher has released a statement in support of Carpenter, saying that he is "forever grateful for her courage" and that she is one of the "bravest" peole he knows.
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
Amber Benson who played Tara Maclay on Buffy the Vampire Slayer supports Carpenter's claims and has stated that the set of the show was "toxic."
As Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the most beloved series in television history, particulalry celebrated for its feminist narrative and empowerment of women, fans were quick to respond to Carpenter's statement on social media.
It is gutting that two shows that gave me so much pleasure, due in no small part to Charisma Carpenter's talent and humour, were made at the expense of her mental and physical health.
Not even the greatest show ever made is worth the abuse she endured.#IstandwithCharisma— Kolley Kibber (@camcamdamn) February 10, 2021
#istandwithcharisma #istandwithray we need to call out our heroes the same amount if not more than those we despise. Hold them to a higher standard. These rumors have been around for a decade and to finally hear they are true breaks my heart for @AllCharisma https://t.co/6DDvnRjrnp
— Madeline #BLACKLIVESMATTER 🌻 (@Lovely_Hooligan) February 10, 2021
As somebody who looked up to Joss Whedon for so long, the Ray Fisher news was horrible to read and this even more so. Buffy has always been the show I’ve relied on to get me through the hard times and it hurts that a wonderful actress and person like Charisma was treated this way https://t.co/gdcsLv7BYB
— Brendan (@BrezzyHayter) February 10, 2021
I’m so sorry that these shows that I and so many others adore were a toxic and harmful environment 💔 You didn’t deserve what happened to you sending so much love 💕 #istandwithcharisma
— Gemma (@sacredgem83) February 10, 2021
✊💜
I still remember how the story was spun by Joss Whedon at that time to frame Charisma Carpenter as "difficult" on set. Never sat right with me. Proud of & happy for her for finally speaking her truth. I can't imagine how horrible it was to experience & hold onto for so long https://t.co/p0SQ0gzVUe— Kayla Hom (@mohalyak) February 10, 2021
Buffy was one of the most formative media properties of my life and I really, REALLY hate that it belongs to Joss Whedon, who is made of garbage
— hannah whitten (@hwhittenwrites) February 10, 2021
Growing up loving Harry Potter and Joss Whedon shows (I mean look at my username that I use EVERYWHERE) just to discover they were horrible people hasn't been easy but the truth is finally there AND I'M SO PROUD OF THEM FOR SPEAKING UP, CORDELIA/CHARISMA DESERVED THE WORLD.
— flowers for machines⁷ (@serenitydiary) February 10, 2021
believe victims.
joss whedon wrote my favorite shows from my teenager days, but i would happily trade all those memories in a moment if it meant that the actors and production staff working on those shows wouldn't be mistreated and abused.— sharpie ✨ (@dapurplesharpie) February 10, 2021
I am so proud of Charisma Carpenter for speaking up about her experience with Joss Whedon. It was well known that she was treated like dirt on the set of Angel, despite playing one of the best female characters ever.
You're doing amazing, Cordelia Chase! 💪 Queen! 👑❤✨ pic.twitter.com/n31zFvA0sL— Dan Farrell 🏳️🌈 (@danfaz94) February 10, 2021
The increasing visible truth of Joss Whedon has been heartbreaking for fans of his work.
But the work’s still there - and made by so many more talents than just him - so the hearts that really matter are those of his traumatised colleagues.https://t.co/7R7KHkXN1r— Andrew Ellard (@ellardent) February 10, 2021