J. August Richards, who played Charles Gunn on all five seasons of Angel, offered his support for Charisma Carpenter following her accusations against Joss Whedon. The recent accusations against the Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator began when Ray Fisher, who played Cyborg in Justice League, spoke about his experience working with Whedon during the film’s reshoots. Fisher accused Whedon of “gross, abusive” behavior toward both the cast and crew, and claimed Whedon was enabled by the film’s producers. Fisher’s accusations lead to an investigation by WarnerMedia, which concluded in December 2020. WarnerMedia stated that “remedial action” was taken to correct behavior on the set. However, Fisher was removed from The Flash, with his future as Cyborg seemingly coming to an end.
Rumors that Carpenter and Whedon had issues during the making of Angel had been rampant for years. However, in support of Fisher, Carpenter released a statement on Twitter, detailing the alleged abusive behavior from Whedon during the production of the shows. Carpenter claimed that Whedon was consistently abusive on both Buffy and Angel, and abused the power he held over the cast and crew. Carpenter said that she “held her tongue” for nearly 20 years, with Fisher’s firing serving as the catalyst for her to finally speak out. Carpenter went into detail about her exit from Angel, claiming that Whedon was furious that she had become pregnant. Carpenter alleged that her controversial season 4 storyline and removal from the show was a direct result of a vindictive Whedon trying to hurt her after her pregnancy.
Now, Richards released a statement on Twitter, showing support for Carpenter. Richards, knowing the potential repercussions that Carpenter could face for speaking out against a powerful and well-connected filmmaker like Whedon, expressed that he knows how strong she is to be able to open up. He also stated that he would be supportive of her in any way possible. Read his full tweet below:
Richards isn’t the only BuffyVerse actor to show public support for Carpenter’s allegations. Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Buffy’s younger sister Dawn, stated that Whedon wasn’t allowed to be alone with her on the Buffy set after an undisclosed incident. Emma Caulfield (Anya), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), and Amber Benson (Tara) have come out in support of Carpenter. Even Buffy herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar, released a statement distancing herself from Whedon and supporting Carpenter’s allegations.
Richards, who appeared in 91 episodes of Angel, presumably, would have been witness to Whedon’s behavior throughout the years. Between him and the other Buffy cast members showing support for Carpenter, things are looking worse and worse for Whedon. While this may stain some fans’ love for Buffy and Angel, the truth coming out about abusive behavior in Hollywood, and holding those responsible accountable, is an unquestionable good.
