This is deeply disturbing
Feb. 16th, 2021 05:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conulyContent warning: Joss Whedon
I don't know what, exactly, could've prompted the "Joss isn't allowed alone in the same room as young adolescent Michelle Trachtenberg" rule, but it can't have been anything good.
(Some people are, of course, putting out arguments that this statement is vaguely worded because nothing happened or that this rule isn't a special Joss-only rule but generally applied when there are teens and kids on set. Those are fancy ways of calling her a liar. They can't all be lying, guys.)
Let's be clear, the problem here isn't Joss. I mean, it is Joss Whedon, he is very obviously a problem and by now he's also a money-losing problem, but the problem isn't (just) him, and it's certainly not the people he hurt who had trouble coming forward. The problem is the people who knew about it, and had real power to take real actions to stop it and then decided... not to. Because Joss Whedon was making them money. They didn't care. Those people probably still don't care, but they're at least motivated by the bottom line.
I don't know what, exactly, could've prompted the "Joss isn't allowed alone in the same room as young adolescent Michelle Trachtenberg" rule, but it can't have been anything good.
(Some people are, of course, putting out arguments that this statement is vaguely worded because nothing happened or that this rule isn't a special Joss-only rule but generally applied when there are teens and kids on set. Those are fancy ways of calling her a liar. They can't all be lying, guys.)
Let's be clear, the problem here isn't Joss. I mean, it is Joss Whedon, he is very obviously a problem and by now he's also a money-losing problem, but the problem isn't (just) him, and it's certainly not the people he hurt who had trouble coming forward. The problem is the people who knew about it, and had real power to take real actions to stop it and then decided... not to. Because Joss Whedon was making them money. They didn't care. Those people probably still don't care, but they're at least motivated by the bottom line.
Completely Agree
Date: 2021-02-13 04:45 am (UTC)Yep, I keep fighting with them on Instagram or restraining myself from doing so. I responded to one who tried that on Marsters post, and two idiots on Trachenbergs. I feel bad for being uncertain about Fisher.
More people have come out now - we now have Marti Noxon stating that she will validate their stories. And Jose Molina - writer for Firefly - validated it. As did Christopher Golden who wrote the books. And James Marsters came out in support - vague and carefully worded - and similar to Sarah's - which was "Buffy set certainly had its challenges". J. August did as well - also vague. Dusku supported Charisma's. Mere Smith - writer on Angel supported Charisma's. Emma Caulfield has been liking all the posts.
Let's be clear, the problem here isn't Joss. I mean, it is Joss Whedon, he is very obviously a problem and by now he's also a money-losing problem, but the problem isn't (just) him, and it's certainly not the people he hurt who had trouble coming forward. The problem is the people who knew about it, and had real power to take real actions to stop it and then decided... not to. Because Joss Whedon was making them money. They didn't care. Those people probably still don't care, but they're at least motivated by the bottom line.
Yep. This came out of an internal legal investigation that Warner Brothers was forced to conduct by a lawsuit filed by Ray Fisher - regarding their firing of him from the Flash due to his allegations against Whedon regarding "racist" behavior and abuse on the reshoot of Justice League. Warner's executives were supporting Whedon and tried to cover it up. Note - Warner Brothers aka WB was the network that Buffy aired on and had hired Joss to show-run Buffy, along with Fox, which was the studio he had the deal. [This is before Fox was bought by Disney]. Fox also was the studio he worked with for Firefly, Angel, and Dollhouse. He was left alone on Buffy - given full creative freedom. David Greenwalt was provided as his "keeper" or co-showrunner. And Greenwalt has had issues as well.
On the set of Buffy and Angel - David Boreanze was allowed to wander about without pants and flash people - Whedon thought it was funny and allowed it. David also pulled pranks - which were permitted.
Also, Amber Benson states in her tweet - "It was a toxic work environment and that happens from the top." Whedon was given free reign, and little supervision.
So you are absolutely right - the problem isn't Joss. And it's not limited to Joss. We have the epitome of bullies, the King of insults, a man who spews hate wherever he goes on trial for impeachment in the Senate, and the GOP wants to let him off the hook? It's across the board. Every workplace I've been in - has been toxic on some level. I've lost track of the number of bosses who had me in tears and gave me nightmares. And it hasn't been until recently that we even had serial bullying laws in place.