July 2nd 2024.
In recent news, allegations of "toxic behaviour" have surfaced against Steve Blackman, the showrunner of popular Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy. Despite the accusations, Blackman has denied any wrongdoing and maintains that he has always strived to create a positive and collaborative work environment.
According to a Rolling Stone report, 12 staff members who worked on the show have accused Blackman of bullying and creating a discriminatory environment, specifically against women. It was also mentioned that a HR complaint was filed in 2023, but sources claim that the investigation was not thorough. It was reported that Blackman allegedly told a writer he fired a pregnant staff member without proper cause, but his spokesperson has clarified that the decision was based on performance and budget, and was handled in compliance with company policies.
Another writer claimed they were warned against taking the job due to Blackman's behavior, but chose to do so anyway. The HR complaint also accuses Blackman of having a history of toxic, bullying, manipulative, and retaliatory behavior, and paints him as a chaotic showrunner who pits his staff against each other and creates a culture of fear and distrust. Some sources allege that he takes credit for other people's work and has made lewd remarks that are sexist, homophobic, and transphobic.
One of the alleged remarks includes a text message from Blackman to a staffer, referring to another female staff member as "relentless" and making a comment about her physical appearance. In an interview with Rolling Stone, one female writer claimed that the environment was incredibly sexist and that women were treated with hostility and disrespect.
Blackman's spokesperson has denied all the allegations, stating that they are completely false and do not reflect the collaborative and respectful working environment that Blackman has fostered over the past four seasons of the show. They also mention that Blackman was instrumental in supporting Elliot Page, who came out as transgender in 2020 and was introduced as a new character in the show.
However, some sources claim that Blackman was not initially supportive of Page's transition, citing a text message where he wrote, "Elliot wants to come out as trans on the show. As Ivan. Oh my fucking God. Kill me now." Blackman's spokesperson clarifies that his comment was in reference to the added workload and not Page's transition.
Despite this, some staffers have accused Blackman of making transphobic comments and creating a hostile work environment. Blackman is also a producer on other shows such as Fargo, Altered Carbon, and Outsiders. The Agency has reached out to Blackman's representatives for a comment on the allegations.
It is important to note that these are just allegations and have not been proven to be true. The Umbrella Academy star Elliot Page has previously spoken highly of Blackman, stating that he was very supportive during their transition. The Agency will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they become available.
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