News | Entertainment
7 Jul 2025 13:38
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Joss Whedon "was not mannerly" with Charisma Carpenter but insisted he "did not call her fat"

    The 57-year-old director - who worked with the 51-year-old actress on 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' - has responded to her claims he created a "toxic" atmosphere on set and "abused his power" on the programme, as well as commenting on her weight when she was four months pregnant.


    Reflecting on how he spoke to her after finding out she was pregnant, he told New York magazine: "I was not mannerly."

    However, he added: "Most of my experiences with Charisma were delightful and charming.

    "She struggled sometimes with her lines, but nobody could hit a punch line harder than her."

    And asked directly if he called the actress "fat" while she was pregnant, he replied: "I did not call her fat. Of course I didn't."

    He also addressed her claims of a volatile work environment, and admitted he wasn't as "civilised" as the time.

    He said: "I was young. I yelled, and sometimes you had to yell. This was a very young cast, and it was easy for everything to turn into a cocktail party."

    He insisted he wouldn't intentionally humiliate anyone on set, noting that would "be a problem".

    He added: "If I am upsetting somebody, it will be a problem for me."

    In her original social media post last year, Charisma accused Whedon of "abusing his power" as the show's creator and ex ecutive producer.

    She wrote: "Joss Whedon abused his power on numerous occasions while working together on the sets of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel.

    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. It is with a beating, heavy heart that I say I coped in isolation and, at times, destructively. (sic)"

    She also claimed he would often try to "pit" cast members against each other to "compete and vie for his attention and approval".

    She added: "He created hostile and toxic work environments since his early career. I know because I experienced it first-hand. Repeatedly.

    Like his ongoing, passive-aggressive threats to fire me, which wreaks havoc on a young actor's self-esteem.

    "And callously calling me "fat" to colleagues when I was four months pregnant, weighing 126lbs. He was mean and biting, disparaging about others openly, and often played favorites, pitting people against one another to compete and vie for his attention and approval. (sic)"

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     07 Jul: Katie Thurston admitted she has no idea "how much time I have left" amid her stage four cancer battle
     07 Jul: Michael Madsen has died
     07 Jul: Yungblud says pansexual is "the label that allows me to be who I am"
     07 Jul: Amal Clooney has praised her husband George Clooney for being "so supportive"
     07 Jul: Allison Williams was "devastated" after one of her Girls storylines got scrapped
     07 Jul: Ariana Madix is constantly seeking "inspo" for her Love Island USA looks
     07 Jul: Jessica Simpson has treated fans to a rare insight into her "heart of gold" son Ace's life as she marked his 12th birthday
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The All Blacks are confident Rieko Ioane will find his footing with his return to the wing ahead of the second test against France in Wellington More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Nicola Willis is encouraging Kiwis to join the FamilyBoost scheme - with changes from this month to capture people who've been missing out More...



     Today's News

    Rugby:
    The All Blacks are confident Rieko Ioane will find his footing with his return to the wing ahead of the second test against France in Wellington 13:27

    Accident and Emergency:
    A man who died hunting at Stewart Island - was reportedly shot 13:07

    Entertainment:
    Katie Thurston admitted she has no idea "how much time I have left" amid her stage four cancer battle 13:06

    Business:
    Nicola Willis is encouraging Kiwis to join the FamilyBoost scheme - with changes from this month to capture people who've been missing out 12:37

    Entertainment:
    Michael Madsen has died 12:36

    Golf:
    Golfer Daniel Hillier will feature at The Open Championship major next week at the Royal Portrush course in Northern Ireland, courtesy of his European Tour ranking 12:27

    Motoring:
    Shane van Gisbergen's secured another victory at a disrupted Nascar street race in Chicago, matching his feat on debut in 2023 12:07

    Entertainment:
    Yungblud says pansexual is "the label that allows me to be who I am" 12:06

    Politics:
    The Police Commissioner says urgent action must be taken to prevent staff accessing inappropriate or harmful content 11:57

    Entertainment:
    Amal Clooney has praised her husband George Clooney for being "so supportive" 11:36


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd