Sarah Michelle Gellar has opened up about the “extremely” toxic set on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The 45-year-old actress spoke out about “hostile” behaviour behind the scenes, almost a year after her co-star Charisma Carpenter made the same accusation at the show's creator Joss Whedon.
Sarah fronted the 1990s sci-fi series in the titular role of Buffy and claimed that women were “pitied against each other” as women were deemed ‘threatening’ if they formed friendships.
“For so long, I was on a set that I think was known for being an extremely toxic male set,” Sarah told The Wrap.
“And so that was ingrained in my head that, that was what all sets were like, and that women were pitted against each other — that if women became friends, then we became too powerful, so you had to keep that down.”
This early experience in Sarah’s career has improved, as time has passed more women have had pivotal roles in filmmaking and films themselves.
Sarah continued: “Now that I've had this opportunity to work with so many more women and men that support women as well, I realised how easy an experience it can be, but… unfortunately we're still in that place where all of those departments a lot of times need to be women for us to have a voice.”
The Cruel Intentions star has spoken out against the show creator, Joss, in the past, as she said she is “proud” to have been in Buffy from 1997 to 2003, but not happy to be associated with Joss.
“While I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don't want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I am more focused on raising my family and surviving a pandemic currently, so I will not be making any further statements at this time.”
She added: “But I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out.”
In a social media post, Charisma accused Joss of “abusing his power” on set and called her “fat” while she was pregnant.
“Joss Whedon abused his power on numerous occasions while working together on the sets of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel,” Charisma wrote.
“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)”
Joss denied all the allegations of misconduct in an interview with New York magazine, earlier this year.
