Warner Bros has fired one of the brains behind its DC comics TV series on Wednesday, after more than a dozen staffers came forward to accuse the executive producer of sexual misconduct.
Andrew Kreisberg was suspended from the network on November 10, when Variety published a report citing nineteen female and male employees who said the 46-year-old acted inappropriately – including touching female workers and making comments about their appearance.
The network launched an investigation into Kreisberg after the report, and on Wednesday decided to fire him from his role as an executive producer on the series Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow.
Warner Bros has fired Andrew Kreisberg for sexual misconduct. The CW executive producer is pictured above in August 2016
‘After a thorough investigation, Warner Bros. Television Group has terminated Andrew Kreisberg’s employment, effective immediately,’ Warner Bros said in a statement. ‘We remain committed to providing a safe working environment for our employees and everyone involved in our productions.’
Kresiberg was most involved on The Flash and Supergirl, where he worked as a co-showrunner. Greg Berlanti, the architect of CW’s DC universe, will be stepping in for Kreisberg now that he has been let go.
Berlanti’s production company also released a statement, saying: ‘Warner Bros. Television Group recently concluded its investigation into the allegations against Andrew Kreisberg. We encouraged and supported this investigation, we believe and support the individuals who came forward, and we agree with the studio’s decision. Nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of all our colleagues — coworkers, crew and staff alike.’
Kresiberg was most involved on the shows the Flash and Supergirl, where he was a co-showrunner
The allegations against Kreisberg ranged from inappropriate touching to more general sexual harassment with demeaning comments.
Similarly to some of the accusers who came out against Harvey Weinstein, some said they were asked for massages by Kreisberg to kissing women without asking.
None of the former and current staffers wanted to go on record for fear of retribution.
Variety says a majority of the sources sited Kriesberg’s alleged sexualized comments about women’s appearances, their clothes, and their perceived desirability.
Kreisberg strongly denied the allegations in Variety’s story.
Kresiberg, pictured in the center of the back row, was accused by nineteen staffers of sexual misconduct. The above picture was taken in January 2015 and features members of The Flash
He told Variety, ‘I have made comments on women’s appearances and clothes in my capacity as an executive producer, but they were not sexualized. Like many people, I have given someone a non-sexual hug or kiss on the cheek.’ He denies that any inappropriate touching or massages occurred.
None of the sources Variety spoke to reported Kreisberg to Warner Bros. human resources, on the assumption that they would pay a price for that, given how important his position was at the company.
‘Going to HR never crossed my mind, because it seems like nothing’s been enforced,’ one woman said.
But as word spread of this story, human resources began interviewing the women on his staff.
Many women said they found the work environment created by Kreisberg to be so hostile and ‘toxic’ that they leave a room when he enters it.
Kreisberg reiterated his denial that he gave any staffers unwanted attention.
‘I have proudly mentored both male and female colleagues for many years. But never in what I believe to be an unwanted way and certainly never in a sexual way,’ he said.
But sources paint a different picture.
‘The workplace feels unsafe,’ one woman says, a sentiment echoed by others. Said another, ‘He scares people.’
Andrew Kreisberg poses in the pressroom at the 41st Annual Saturn Awards at The Castaway on June 25, 2015 in Burbank, California
Variety says a high level female producer had voiced her concerns over Kreisberg’s alleged harassment of female employees to a senior executive at Berlanti Productions.
‘There was zero response,’ this woman says. ‘Nothing happened. Nothing changed.’
A male writer who worked for one of the CW shows Kreisberg has run says, ‘It was an environment in which women — assistants, writers, executives, directors — were all evaluated based on their bodies, not on their work.’
This male colleague says that he talked to Kreisberg about his behavior a few times, but ‘it had no impact,’ the co-worker says.
So the writer came to understand that ‘sexual harassment and demeaning women was just pervasive there — like white noise in the background,’ he says.
One male colleague has known Kreisberg for some time says he wrote Kreisberg an email to try to get him to change. After these attempts, he says, Kreisberg often would not speak to him for days, or he would ignore what was said.
Kriesberg told Variety that no colleague, anyone from Berlanti Productions or anyone from Warner Bros. ever told him to not make sexually harassing comments to women.
Some of the accusers said that as he gained more authority, he would get more aggressive.
‘The power went to his head,’ says a male writer. ‘It became clear to me that it would be very dangerous, career-wise, for me to confront him about his behavior.’
One woman quoted the show-runner as saying: ‘You should have seen the other dogs we interviewed for that position.’ Kreisberg denies saying this.
‘Younger women were constantly belittled and subjected to nasty comments,’ said a writer who has worked with Kreisberg.