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After Charisma Carpenter's claims, Internet recalls Joss Whedon's ex calling him ‘hypocrite’ preaching feminism

In a personal essay in 2017, ex-wife Kai Cole accused Whedon of emotional manipulation, adultery and of being 'a Hypocrite Preaching Feminist Ideals’
PUBLISHED FEB 10, 2021
Joss Whedon and his wife Kai Cole arrive at the screening of 'Buffy The Musical'. Cole, after their divorce, wrote a personal essay accusing Whedon of manipulation and adultery. (Getty Images)
Joss Whedon and his wife Kai Cole arrive at the screening of 'Buffy The Musical'. Cole, after their divorce, wrote a personal essay accusing Whedon of manipulation and adultery. (Getty Images)

On Wednesday, February 10, American actor Charisma Carpenter came out with allegations of abuse against Joss Whedon, showing her support to Ray Fisher, who played the role of Cyborg in ‘Justice League’, who had criticized Whedon’s behavior as “gross”, “abusive”, and “unprofessional” in 2020. Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase in Whedon’s supernatural drama series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and its spin-off series ‘Angel’, said that the showrunner had “abused his power on numerous occasions” during her time on both shows.

Carpenter said that Whedon made “ongoing, passive-aggressive threats to fire” her, which “wreaks havoc on a young actor's self-esteem”. She also said that he called her "fat" to colleagues when she was four months pregnant, weighing 126 lbs. She said, “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.”

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Charisma Carpenter alleged that Joss Whedon "abused his power on numerous occasions” while working on the sets of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Angel’. (Getty Images)

When finally aware that she was pregnant, Whedon allegedly requested a meeting with Carpenter, and asked her if she was "going to keep it", and thereafter, allegedly “manipulatively weaponized my womanhood and faith against me.” As per the actor, Whedon attacked her “character, mock my religious beliefs, accuse me of sabotaging the show, and then unceremoniously fired me the following season once I gave birth.” 

In the wake of the alarming accusations of misconduct, many on the internet began discussing accusations made by Whedon’s ex-wife several years ago. 



 



 



 



 

Kai Cole’s personal essay titled ‘Joss Whedon Is a Hypocrite Preaching Feminist Ideals’

Cole, an American producer and actress, who was reportedly married to Whedon from 1995 to 2016 -- the two separated in 2012 -- published a personal essay on The Wrap in 2017, accusing Whedon of emotional manipulation and adultery. As per Cole, Whedon claimed his mother had raised him as a feminist, but his actions only contradicted that. 

In the essay, she wrote: “Despite understanding, on some level, that what he was doing was wrong, he never conceded the hypocrisy of being out in the world preaching feminist ideals, while at the same time, taking away my right to make choices for my life and my body based on the truth. He deceived me for 15 years, so he could have everything he wanted.”

Joss Whedon and Kai Cole at an event for 'Much Ado About Nothing' in 2012. (IMDb)

She said, “I want to let women know that he is not who he pretends to be. I want the people who worship him to know he is human, and the organizations giving him awards for his feminist work, to think twice in the future about honoring a man who does not practice what he preaches.”

Following the essay, a spokesperson for Whedon issued a response: “While this account includes inaccuracies and misrepresentations which can be harmful to their family, Joss is not commenting, out of concern for his children and out of respect for his ex-wife.”

Other allegations

James Marsters as Spike stars in 20th Century Fox's "Buffy The Vampire Slayer Year 5." (Getty Images)

But Cole or Carpenter or Fisher are not the only ones who have spoken about Whedon’s abuse. American actor, musician, and voice actor James Marsters who played the role of British vampire Spike in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Angel’, too, has spoken about it. 

Just two weeks after Fisher’s allegations, in an episode of the ‘Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum’ podcast, Marsters revealed Whedon's unsettling reaction to his character's surprise popularity. He said, "I remember he backed me up against a wall one day and he was just like, ‘I don’t care how popular you are, kid, you’re dead. You hear me? Dead. Dead!'" Marsters also told Rosenbaum that Whedon wasn't joking around, and "was angry at the situation."

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