Justice League’s Ray Fisher hits out at Warner Bros and Joss Whedon

Justice League actor Ray Fisher has slammed the Warner Bros’ investigation into director Joss Whedon’s onset behavior as suspicious because he claims it was designed to protect top executives who he says aren’t ‘fit for positions of leadership’. 

Fisher is still demanding an apology from the film studio over its handling of the investigation that he pushed for following his work with Whedon, who directed Buffy the Vampire Slayer, on the set of the 2017 Justice League film. 

The 33-year-old actor has repeatedly slammed Whedon, producers Geoff Johns and Jon Berg and other film executives on Twitter over the past year for what he claims was racist and inappropriate conduct while filming the movie.

He also alleges a subsequent cover up by Warner Bros regarding the investigation and a smear campaign against him after he decided to come forward. 

In his first wide-ranging interview with The Hollywood Reporter about the ordeal, Fisher has now slammed the studio’s handling of the allegations and claimed that some executives are not fit for their positions. 

Joss Whedon

Justice League actor Ray Fisher has slammed the Warner Bros’ investigation into director Joss Whedon’s onset behavior as suspicious because he claims it was designed to protect top executives

The studio’s parent company, WarnerMedia, said back in December that its investigation into Fisher’s complaints had concluded and ‘remedial action’ had been taken. 

It did not elaborate and Fisher has since demanded that the results of the investigation be released publicly.  

Speaking about what he claims was a cover-up by studio executives regarding the investigation, Fisher said: ‘I don’t believe some of these people are fit for positions of leadership.

‘I don’t want them excommunicated from Hollywood, but I don’t think they should be in charge of the hiring and firing of other people.’ 

He said he feels he has been able to make a point over the last year.  

‘If I can’t get accountability… at least I can make people aware of who they’re dealing with.’  

Whedon and the studio have not commented about Fisher’s allegations. 

Fisher, who played Cyborg in the film, first came forward publicly with his allegations against Whedon last July when he alleged that the director had displayed abusive behavior on set and that producers Johns and Berg had enabled him. 

Fisher, who played Cyborg (above) in the film, first came forward publicly with his allegations against Whedon last July when he alleged that the director had displayed abusive behavior on set

Fisher, who played Cyborg (above) in the film, first came forward publicly with his allegations against Whedon last July when he alleged that the director had displayed abusive behavior on set

Producers Geoff Johns

Producer Jon Berg

The 33-year-old actor has repeatedly slammed Whedon, producers Geoff Johns (left) and Jon Berg (right) and other film executives on Twitter over the past year for what he claims was racist and inappropriate conduct while filming the movie

He has now detailed those allegations for the first time, telling THR that he felt like he had to explain ‘the most basic points of what would be offensive to the black community’.

Fisher also says there were discussions with top executives that they could not have an ‘angry black man’ at the center of the film.

He said tensions escalated when the issue of having his character say ‘booyah’ came up.

Fisher said his agent eventually called studio chief Toby Emmerich about his on-set concerns.

He claims Johns later called him in for a meeting to say that Fisher’s agent calling studio executives was ‘just not cool’.

‘He said, ‘I consider us to be friends’ – which he knew we were not – ‘and I just don’t want you to make a bad name for yourself in the business’,’ Fisher recalled him saying.

A spokesman for Johns has denied making such threats.

The 33-year-old actor has repeatedly spoken out on Twitter over the last year regarding his ordeal with Whedon and the producers on set

The 33-year-old actor has repeatedly spoken out on Twitter over the last year regarding his ordeal with Whedon and the producers on set

He also alleged a subsequent cover up by Warner Bros regarding the investigation, accusing DC film boss Walter Hamada of interfering

He also alleged a subsequent cover up by Warner Bros regarding the investigation, accusing DC film boss Walter Hamada of interfering

Fisher also once claimed that the studio engaged in a smear campaign against him after he decided to come forward

Fisher also once claimed that the studio engaged in a smear campaign against him after he decided to come forward

After the investigation was launched in August last year, Fisher claims the process was suspicious because he said it seemed like it was designed to protect the studio executives. 

In response, Fisher said he felt like he had to step up his protests on Twitter. He claims it resulted in the studio smearing him in public. 

Following a September tweet in which he accused DC film boss Walter Hamada of throwing Whedon and Berg ‘under the bus’ to protect Johns, the studio issued a statement calling the actor’s allegations false.  

The studio also said Fisher had refused to speak to investigators ‘multiple’ times. 

Fisher, who has described that statement as a ‘hit piece’, said he demanded an apology for several weeks but to no avail. 

He said he then learned the investigation had been completed in December and in January this year found out his Cyborg character had been removed from an upcoming The Flash film.  

Fisher said he knew speaking out could harm his career and ultimately cost him a place in the DC film world. 

‘When I first spoke up, I assumed there was no way these guys would allow me to do my job in peace,’ he said.  

‘I’m not so indebted to Hollywood that I haven’t been willing to put myself out there.’