A powerful Hollywood producer, Joss Whedon, has been accused of pressuring a pregnant actress to abort her unborn baby. Michael Robinson, SPUC Director of Communications, said: “Babies don’t ruin careers, employers who do not support women do.”
Producer Joss Whedon is celebrated for his contribution to co-writing Toy Story and producing the 1990’s TV hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer. More recently, Whedon has co-written the iconic Justice League franchise.
However, the producer is now facing a wave of accusations against him as actress Charisma Carpenter has accused him of “abusing his power” and mistreating women.
Ms Carpenter, who worked alongside Whedon whilst performing in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, described how when she became pregnant Whedon subjected her to cruelty and bullying on set.
After announcing her pregnancy, Ms Carpenter said that the producer took her into a room and asked her if she was going to keep “it”. The actress said that Whedon called her “fat” in front of her co-workers, and when she was six months pregnant Whedon forced her to travel to work at 1 a.m. despite doctors warning her against working long hours.
Shortly after Ms Carpenter gave birth to her child, she was fired from the Buffy spinoff show Angel.
She said: “He proceeded to attack my character, mock my religious beliefs, accuse me of sabotaging the show, and then unceremoniously fired me the following season once I gave birth.”
SPUC’s Mr Robinson said: “What Ms Carpenter has described is sickening. We are glad that this brave actress was able to protect herself and her unborn child and is now raising awareness by speaking out about this ordeal.
“However, it is not difficult to imagine a scenario in which such negative workplace attitudes towards pregnancy and motherhood make a woman feel pressured towards abortion in order to protect her career.”
Pro-abortion Hollywood
During 2017, Whedon produced a short film celebrating Planned Parenthood, and two years ago he wished the abortion giant a happy 100 year anniversary on Twitter.
Whedon has now joined the ranks of powerful Hollywood males who have had claims of mistreatment and abortion coercion made against them.
Recently, an ex-partner of Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, spoke out about her tragic ordeal when Eastwood forced her to have two abortions. Similarly, in 2016, Mark Hamill, famous for his role as Luke Skywalker in the Star War film series, was also accused by his ex-partner of trying to force her to have an abortion.
SPUC’s Mr Robinson added: “Coerced abortion is a serious form of domestic abuse. Forcing a woman to have an abortion is one of the worst things that can happen to a woman. It is vital that abusers who engage in such behaviour are brough to account.”