Superhero stars use their powers
Actresses take on Hollywood sexual harassment
Actresses who star on some of TV’s top superhero shows aren’t naming names. But in the wake of the Warner Bros. suspension last week of producer Andrew Kreisberg after allegations about his behaviour, several performers in DC Comics-based TV shows are speaking out against sexual harassment in Hollywood.
Their statements come after their big-screen superhero sisters Ellen Page and Anna Paquin have been taking on producer-director Brett Ratner in the wake of an L.A. Times report of sexual misconduct allegations against him.
“When people commit crimes or harass others, they should always be held accountable — no matter what industry they work in or how much power they wield,” Melissa Benoist, the title star of Supergirl, said on Twitter.
Supergirl castmate Chyler Leigh followed up on Instagram, beginning with a Maya Angelou quote to urge women to support each other: “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”
And Emily Bett Rickards from Arrow tweeted: “To the men who committed sexual harassment, who perpetuated rape culture, who turn a ‘blind eye,’ and complain about ‘reverse sexism’: You are weak and complicit.”
Rickards’ tweet also addressed women who are sharing their stories of assault and harassment: “To the women who found the strength to speak up, to the women who supported one another and to the women finding their voice: You can. You are heroines.”
Kreisberg, an executive producer, works on the series Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.
The Warner Bros. Television Group began investigating the allegations against Kreisberg after Variety reported last Friday that 19 people described experiences of harassment they said Kreisberb committed, including inappropriate touching and fostering a toxic work environment.
Kreisberg denied the allegations, telling Variety: “I have made comments on women’s appearances and clothes in my capacity as an executive producer, but they were not sexualized.”
Warner Bros. Television says it is conducting an internal investigation into the allegations.
Berlanti Productions, the studio behind those superhero series, said: “We were recently made aware of some deeply troubling allegations regarding one of our showrunners. We have been encouraging and fully co-operating with the investigation into this by Warner Bros.
And Page Six reported last week, citing only an unnamed industry source, that Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot had issued an ultimatum to try to force Ratner off any Wonder Woman sequel.