Social media continues to rage in the wake of Charisma Carpenter’s allegations of misconduct against Joss Whedon. Carpenter posted on her social media this week to detail numerous occasions when Buffy and Angel creator Whedon allegedly subjected her to abusive behavior due to her religious beliefs and pregnancy.
Carpenter’s allegations follow those of Justice League actor Ray Fisher (Victor Stone/Cyborg) who called Whedon’s behavior on set “gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable.” Carpenter played Cordelia Chase on both Buffy and Angel, some of the most beloved pieces of Whedon’s work.
Since Carpenter shared her account of the disturbing incidents, many of her co-stars have reached out to support her. This includes Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Buffy’s younger sister Dawn. She issued a statement saying there was a rule on set that writer/director Whedon was never to be alone with her.
Now, Marvel actor J. August Richards has expressed his support for Carpenter on Twitter saying, “Sending you my love @allcharisma. I know the feelings of vulnerability and fear that come with speaking your truth. As I said to you yesterday, I am here for you, however you need me.”
Sending you my love, @allcharisma. I know the feelings of vulnerability and fear that come with speaking your truth. As I said to you yesterday, I am here for you, however you need me. ??❤️
— J. August Richards (@jaugustrichards) February 12, 2021
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Richards starred alongside Charisma on Angel and was also on twelve episodes of Marvel‘s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Mike Peterson/Deathlok. Whedon helped developed the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television series after his success on the film Avengers (2012). He later parted ways with Disney and Marvel after Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
As of now, no accusations of abusive behavior against Whedon have come from any Marvel or Disney project in which he was involved. Meanwhile, as more actors speak out on social media, fans have had to reconcile their love for Whedon’s work with their feelings about the creator. Some have even called for Marvel to retcon his Age of Ultron.