Inside Joss Whedon’s ‘Cutting’ and ‘Toxic’ World of ‘Buffy’ and ‘Angel’ (EXCLUSIVE)

The most troubling statement came from Trachtenberg, who played Buffy’s younger sister, Dawn, on three seasons of the show, starting when she was 15. In an Instagram post, Trachtenberg characterized Whedon’s behavior as “not appropriate.” In a later update to the caption, she alleged there was a “rule” on the set that Whedon was forbidden to be alone in a room with her.

While several high-placed sources who worked on “Buffy” say they were not aware of this rule, a person with direct knowledge of the production at the time confirms to Variety that an effort was made by those around Trachtenberg to ensure the young actor was never alone with Whedon. According to this person, it was due to an improper verbal exchange between Whedon and Trachtenberg.

In that high-pressure production environment, the “Buffy” set was often aggressively adult, with inappropriate and cutting jokes flying behind the scenes. One source with detailed knowledge of the production recalls Trachtenberg’s mother expressing frustration because the set atmosphere was inappropriate for a young teenager.

Whedon was “both feared and idolized” by the actors on the show, says a person who was part of the team overseeing “Buffy” during its run. He could be fulsome with his attention with one of his favorites, and “sharp-tongued” when he was displeased.

The more heterosexual men talk about how much they care about social issues, the more it makes me think they have something to hide. In this case, he's calling himself a feminist so he can score more and better pussy, not to actually further the cause of women's rights.

I feel like...most TV sets end up like this? Wasn't this basically the story of Glee?

This article just rehashes what's already been set about him on Twitter and in other articles. If they could have gotten any of the Angel or Buffy actors on the record (aside from their Twitter posts), it would have meant more.

Whedon sounds like a deeply insecure person, one of those toxic bullies who kisses up and kicks down. I've had bosses like him, and they're nightmares to work for.

How did Charisma's character last so long if Whedon hated her?

If she had the studio behind her, he couldn't fire her without cause. She was also co-producer David Greenwalt's favorite, which is why he tapped her to become the female lead on Angel. For an insecure control freak like Joss, that would be enough to make him hate her.

I've always been curious about what went down between him and SMG. I thought the bad blood started when he moved Buffy to UPN, but this article makes it sound like it started much earlier. I know he resented her doing Cruel Intentions between Seasons 2 and 3, which was odd in itself. Why would he care if Gellar did a movie on her summer break?

I watched Buffy when it originally aired. It was mildly amusing. I honestly don't understand how it continues to have such a large, rabid fan base.

I've always heard that the bad blood between Gellar and Whedon was that they both thought the other party didn't give them enough credit for the show's success.

The brilliant but egomaniacal “golden boy” creative is one of the oldest clichés in Hollywood. Recently depicted via Orson Welles in “Mank.”

Whedon would never have heard boo about any of this if he hadn't built his career on being a woke feminist. As it is, he seems like the worst kind of hypocrite.

These attacks do seem targeted though, and I'm not talking about Charisma Carpenter's Twitter. I wonder what truly powerful person Whedon pissed off? It's like the Harvey Weinstein or Kevin Spacey takedowns: Everyone, and I mean everyone, knew those men were massive sleazes--I knew, and I'm a nobody living in the middle of nowhere. But the rumors never seemed important until all of a sudden they were. In cases like that, I always assume that the target pissed off someone with real clout who sicced the dogs on them.

[quote]I honestly don't understand how it continues to have such a large, rabid fan base.

It hit at just the right time, the formative years for the late gen x/early millennial crowd. It’s not a show gen z gives a shit about.

From all I’ve heard over the years, everyone on that show seemed to treat goddess Amber Benson like shit, and I’m not here for it.

She did end up dating that creepy dude who played Warren, and befriending creepier James Marsters, though, so perhaps I may have to finally confront the fact that she’s not quite as perfect as I prefer to imagine.

R12 details?

I liked Buffy but am I the only one who thinks it's not nearly as great as it's made out to be? The last two seasons are arguably terrible. I'm blown away that it's (allegedly) the most studied tv show in academia?

R14 colour me shocked that BtVS is more academically popular than STAR TREK, BABYLON FIVE, XENA, and TWIN PEAKS.

[quote] There is a general sense among those who spoke with Variety that Whedon knew how to “manage up,” and acted differently toward those he worked for versus those who worked for him.

This is what you tend to find with people who are, as Charisma and Jose Molina described, "casually cruel". They'll brush off cutting remarks with wide-eyed innocence - "it was just a joke, don't take it so seriously" - yet strangely they know not to make similar comments to the higher-ups.

It'll be interesting to see if Whedon makes any sort of public rebuttal.

That gross and pathetic letter of explanation which he wrote to his wife was the worse.

It read like something out of a book, titled, “100 excuses incels give their wives for being cheating assholes, who also abuse their employees, in order to be perceived as innocent victims, who were victimized by their victims”!

I hope she dumped his ass immediately after digesting that tripe.

Oh, & I cannot fathom why ANYONE would fuck this Beanie Baby Incel, including his wife.

The money had to be good and flowing like river.

Gross 🤮

He really liked Summer Glau’s feet.

You put a bunch teens and 20something actors together along with a straight guy showrunner who wasn't popular and never got laid in high school on a set without supervision and you have a recipe for disaster.

You put a bunch teens and 20something actors together along with a gay guy showrunner who was closeted and scared of being gay in high school on a set without supervision and you have a recipe for Dynasty.

R15, it could be. I hope not. It's not nearly as good as Tiwn Peaks.

R20, lol because it’s so succinct.

Why are people surprised to hear that many television and film sets are toxic or at the very least, aggravating experiences?

Why should a set be any different than your average office/normal workplace environment?

It's like when fans are crushed to discover that Betty, Bea, Rue and Estelle weren't all best friends who lived together and adored each other.

Show business is just like any other business expect there's more divas involved. But, in the long run, work is work. Hopefully, it's work you like doing but at the very least there's gonna be a turd or two to deal with and you're not going to want to necessarily pal around with everyone in your free time or keep in touch 20 years after you've left the company.

I loved the Buffy movie, it was great fun, especially ingenue Luke Perry needing to be continually rescued. I was interested in the TV show, but the seemed to drain out all the humor and fun from the original, so I never got into it. It always felt wrong and like there was bad juju going on, so there was no interest and now I know why. I read a little of the current issues stuff, but I just can feel sorry for that girl with the awkward name, if she had a shit time on the first series, she should never have gone on to the second one, I have no sympathy for her.

This "rule" protected him.

If the rule had not been created, Trachtenberg would not be making cryptic remarks today. She would be saying outright that she had been raped, sold into white slavery and forced to bear his children who were given to an Illuminati p@do ring.

Interesting how this rule,which was smartly created to protect him and the minor actor from accusations of impropriety is being turned inside out to suggest something is wrong.

He cheated on his wife for years with hordes of actress looking to trade their youth and beauty for an opportunity at stardom.

He rudely implied an actress who wore a size double zero dress was a porker as she began gaining weight during her pregnancy.

He was nasty to the same actress who choose to get a large tattoo on a visible part of her body while the show was in production and ruining continuity.

Is that it?

R24 = Kristy Swanson

Has David Boreanez weighed in? Was he part of Whedon's favored inner circle like Alexis and Amy?

It just goes to show, never trust a m̶a̶l̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶m̶i̶n̶i̶s̶t̶ man in a fedora.

[quote] I wonder what truly powerful person Whedon pissed off? It's like the Harvey Weinstein or Kevin Spacey takedowns: Everyone, and I mean everyone, knew those men were massive sleazes--I knew, and I'm a nobody living in the middle of nowhere. But the rumors never seemed important until all of a sudden they were. In cases like that, I always assume that the target pissed off someone with real clout who sicced the dogs on them.

R10 makes a good point.

Whedon and Gellar didn't get on because both were strong willed and opinionated, Gellar didn't treat the set like a place where a bunch of friends hung out but as a place of work which made it difficult for Whedon to manipulate her. Carpenter wasn't the strongest actor on either shows but she was better than Brendon and yet he never seemed to get any of the shit Carpenter received, probably down to gender and she probably didn't bow down to Whedon as others did.

[quote]Has David Boreanez weighed in? Was he part of Whedon's favored inner circle like Alexis and Amy?

I remember some DL thread a few years ago, it was mentioned that Boreanaz and Whedon had some kind of falling out. Other gossip was that it was a rule on the Bones set that no one was to mention Buffy and Angel to Boreanaz.

Sorry, I know it is slightly off topic, but does anyone have a link to the allegations against Boreaanaz?

[quote]Why are people surprised to hear that many television and film sets are toxic or at the very least, aggravating experiences?

[quote]It's like when fans are crushed to discover that Betty, Bea, Rue and Estelle weren't all best friends who lived together and adored each other.

I think some people really fall in love with the TV show characters and/or the creators so they get to the point where they believe that the sets are all happy places and all that the actors, creators, EPs are all nice people.

There was some reddit thread several years back in which someone claimed to have to worked on The Office production crew and said that Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski weren't all that nice to crew members. The poster did say that Steve Carrell was a very nice person and didn't mention anything other cast members. Fischer and Krasinski both give off phony ass vibe. I think Krasinski plays up the "nice guy" image because the frau portion of The Office fanbase fell in love with his character. If the story about Krasinksi and Fischer is true--you know the frau fans would be crushed.

[quote] You put a bunch teens and 20something actors together along with a straight guy showrunner who wasn't popular and never got laid in high school on a set without supervision and you have a recipe for disaster.

Yooooo

I know several middle aged fat woke fraus who LOVE this show. They adore Whedon’s cute, snarky dialogue as much as the love to use the word “snarky.” These are the same women demanding that Shakespeare and Homer, etc be cancelled. What a conundrum for them!

They pray nothing “problematic” about the late Alan Rickmam ever comes to light. They’ve lost Buffy, how could they cope with having to renounce their beloved Professor Snape?

It doesn’t sound like an average workplace R23. Joss Whedon’s ass would have been fired or corporate would have had a lawsuit on its hands in the real world. That’s probably the case on many Hollywood sets.

So, canceled ComicCon means every c-lister is looking for a way to make rent off past grievances?

R23, I think part of it is that Joss did such a stellar job of presenting himself as the quintessential nice guy. He sounded so convincing in his desire to create strong female characters; he sounded so fond of the cast in interviews.

He did create strong female characters.

Yes, R40, but the pro-feminist image that went with it was a load of bollocks.

I tried watching Buffy — what a piece of trash.

R33, DB was a well known pussy hound who treated his partner/wife like total shit and cheated REGULARLY and PROFUSELY.

Couldn’t keep his dick in his pants to save his life.

I don’t necessarily recall reading about it back then, but it was definitely gossiped about.

David Borrneaz was hot, tho.

Well, BIG DEAL.

He catfished me then forced me to exhibit myself!

[quote]I feel like...most TV sets end up like this? Wasn't this basically the story of Glee?

Ryan took the blame for that as he admitted he didn't know what he was doing. There apparently haven't been any problems like that on any of his sets since. He learned from it.

[quote]Why are people surprised to hear that many television and film sets are toxic or at the very least, aggravating experiences?

Everyone involved with the show had previously worked on other projects and have worked on projects since.

If they're saying now, okay there were some screwed up things going on, then they're also saying that what was happening wasn't usual versus other things they've worked on.

It sounds indeed like this is much like GLEE. You have a smart showrunner who was an outcast in high school with a strong creative vision, and a bunch of superinsecure young people working for him desperate for praise. It turns into a re-working of high school, except now the formerly ignored geek gets to be the queen bee.

I have yet to hear something that happened for which Whedon should be canceled. There are all kinds of directors who were famous for being cutting or bullying towards their actors (Hitchcock and Sir David Lean, for example). I think that if you're an actor that's part of the job.

I feel next we're going to see newspaper articles from army recruits complaining their drill sergeant bullied them or said sarcastic things to them: "He would tell me to save the drama for my mama! I hated him! Cancel him!"

Former nerd and incel Joss was acting out all his high school fantasies on the set of Buffy. He was manipulating all those pretty girls and boys like Barbie dolls (let's not forget that one of his future shows would literally be called Dollhouse). The ones who played along with him got petted, the ones who interrupted his King of the Prom fantasy got treated like shit.

He tried that crap on A-list stars when he was directing Justice League and got smacked down hard. Apparently he also pissed off the higher-ups too, and one or more of them is seeing to it that he never works again.

This isn't about Joss being any better or worse in terms of behavior. It's about the fact that he built his reputation on being BETTER than the average director/producer. But how he treated SMG or Charisma isn't the real issue here. This is about what happened during Justice League that caused the internal investigation, and the waves that are still rippling out from that. It's like with Brian Singer--you can treat the little people badly, but when your behavior echoes up the ladder to the people who are really in charge, that's when you see consequences.

[quote] He did create strong female characters.

Not really. He created one type of “strong“ female character and xeroxed her across nearly all of his projects. There’s a lot of sameness to the Buffy women, the Dollhouse women, the MCU (comics and movies) women, etc.

Budd was fantastic (not the last season though, what garbage) and it was a great feminist show. That is actually much more importnt than if Whedon is a cool guy. And he created at least two strong female character types.

He’s a dick, and the shit he pulled post Buddy, and Angel was 20 years ago.

But just as R50 points out, you’ll not get away with that shit today, and you most definitely will not get away with treating your black actors the way you did Charisma and others, 20 years back.

This asshole has not managed to check his ego, and keep it moving, and now his money trained stopped at a very unique and socially aware station, where actors and the little people will take to Twitter and jump on that caboose like they did back in the wild, Wild West, and demand something more important than money from assholes like Josh:

RESPECT.

Fuck this incel white supremacy, misogynistic, racist, sexist, film set culture.

Over it.

Cordelia was awesome on Angel while Greenwalt was there. I think Whedon 1) had an axe to grind with the pretty girl to get even for some high school shit and 2) probably didn't like the network interfering by insisting that Charisma be cast in the role.

[Quote] Those Supernatural guys better have a squeaky clean past

I think they're in the clear. The only messy one was Jared and his assholery was on display for everyone to see thanks to twitter.

[Quote] Drake & Josh, Miranda & Jennette, Ari, Amanda

As far as we know, Joss isn't a pedo unlike Dan.