James Marsters (left) and Joss Whedon.Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images; Gabriel Olsen/WireImage
James Marsters is the latestBuffy the Vampire Slayeralum to speak out amid abuse allegations against the series’s creator,Joss Whedon.
Marsters, who played Spike on the hit teen series and its spinoff,Angel, said in a Twitter post on Friday that he was “heartbroken” following allegations that Whedon, 56, had created a “hostile and toxic” work environment on the set of both shows.
Reps for Whedon did not have a comment at this time.
“While I will always be honored to have played the character of Spike, the Buffy set was not without challenges,” Marsters, 58, said. “I do not support abuse of any kind, and am heartbroken to learn of the experiences of some of the cast.”
The actor added, “I send my love and support to all involved.”
James Marsters as Spike.Everett Collection
Recently, Charisma Carpenter — who starred as Cordelia Chase onBuffy the Vampire Slayerfrom 1997–1999 andAngelfrom 1999-2004 — shared a lengthy statement on social media,accusing Whedon of making repeated threats to fire herand efforts to “alienate” her from her peers.
“For nearly two decades, I have held my tongue and made excuses for certain events that traumatize me to this day,” Carpenter, 50, began in her statement. “Joss Whedon abused his power on numerous occasions while working together on the sets ofBuffy the Vampire SlayerandAngel. 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,” Carpenter added. “It is with a beating, heavy heart that I say I coped in isolation and, at times, destructively.”
Charisma Carpenter (left) and Joss Whedon.John Sciulli/Getty; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
“He proceeded to attack my character, mock my religious beliefs, accuse me of sabotaging the show, and then unceremoniously fired me the following season once I gave birth,” she claimed.
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“This is not a man saying, ‘I didn’t see it so it didn’t happen,’ " he said. “I am gutted. I’m seriously gutted because one of my memories — my fondest memory — was the fact that it was so empowering. Not just with the words in the script, but the family feel of the show.”
“I am really sad that if people went through these experiences,” Head added.
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The new allegations come the year after actor Ray Fisher accused Whedon of being “gross, abusive, unprofessional, andcompletely unacceptable” while they worked together onJustice Leaguein 2017.
WarnerMedia launched an internal investigation after Fisher’s claims, and said when the investigation concluded in December 2020 that “remedial action has been taken.”
source: people.com
