‘Umbrella Academy’ showrunner denies allegations of retaliation, toxic work environment

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As a seasoned movie critic with over two decades of experience in the industry, I have seen my fair share of allegations against showrunners and production environments. However, the recent accusations leveled against Steve Blackman of “The Umbrella Academy” leave me deeply troubled.

Previously employed individuals have made allegations against Steve Blackman, the showrunner of “The Umbrella Academy,” claiming he created a harmful workplace atmosphere, retaliated against people, claimed others’ achievements as his own, and made insensitive comments. An examination by Rolling Stone uncovered these claims.

Blackman has denied the accusations.

A representative for Mr. Blackman denied on Monday, via The Times, that allegations from a small group of discontented employees were valid or in line with the cooperative, considerate, and thriving work atmosphere that Mr. Blackman has fostered.

Twelve individuals from Rolling Stone, including writers and support staff, were interviewed anonymously for fear of professional repercussions. A HR complaint against Blackman was examined in detail by the publication, but it remained undisclosed who had originally submitted the grievance.

An examination of the complaint against Blackman, which was submitted to Universal Content Productions in May 2023, concluded and mostly dismissed the accusations against him. According to Rolling Stone, allegations such as Blackman’s “long history of toxic, bullying, manipulative, and retaliatory behavior” were not upheld.

However, the investigation did find that Blackman had sent inappropriate texts.

As a seasoned HR professional with years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of workplace misconduct allegations. Based on the information provided, it seems that Mr. Blackman found himself in hot water due to some inappropriate text messages he exchanged with a senior colleague and close friend for many years. The investigation into this matter revealed that these texts were indeed unacceptable given his position as showrunner.

McKeown’s representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

According to a report by Rolling Stone, Blackman discussed in one of the texts for the HR complaint how Page’s gender transition would be portrayed on screen.

“According to the text, Elliot intends to reveal his identity as a trans man on the show under the name Ivan. Oh dear, what a shocking revelation! Please, spare me from this overwhelming news.”

Actor Elliot Page has praised his showrunner’s handling of his “Umbrella Academy” character’s transition.
(Ryan Pfluger / For The Times)

In the end, “The Umbrella Academy” transformed Elliot’s character into Viktor, who is trans instead of Vanya. Blackman’s representative shared that the showrunner was deeply proud of this narrative development. They mentioned that the script had already been completed and the writers’ room disbanded, so this change likely came from Elliot’s personal turmoil during that period.

“Mr. Blackman found himself in a challenging situation: having to completely revamp a show within an extremely tight deadline while ensuring a delicate approach. He acknowledged the pressure this task, along with his other management duties, placed upon him. Concerning the development of the show’s storyline, it was Mr. Blackman’s choice to make that decision, after consulting with experts, and he remains confident in the outcome.”

On Monday, Page’s team declined to comment on the matter right away. Previously, the actor known for “Inception” has commended Blackman publicly, following the latter’s significant $50-million Netflix deal sealed in 2020.

Last year, according to Amy Kaufman of The Times, Blackman indicated his intention to advance Viktor’s plotline during Page’s recovery from top surgery, which initiated three months prior to the commencement of filming for the third season of “The Umbrella Academy.”

As a movie reviewer, I’d say: When Blackman decided to bring authenticity to his latest project, he brought in Thomas Page McBee, a trans man and a fellow collaborator from “Tales of the City” (2019). McBee worked diligently on rewriting scripts and closely guided the actor, ensuring that their storyline truly resonated with the trans community.

In the complaint, it was alleged that Blackman responded with reprisal actions towards employees. According to McKeown’s interview with Rolling Stone, he personally encountered, and saw others experience, retaliation following his support of a colleague in a salary disagreement.

The complaint states that Blackman failed to renew the contract of a female writing team after one of its members took maternity leave just a month into their work on “Umbrella.”

The spokesperson clarified that no writer has been let go from the show due to being fired. Instead, the choice not to renew some writers’ contracts was solely dependent on their performance and budget considerations. Any suggestions of wrongdoing are unfounded. To maintain fairness and adherence to policies, Mr. Blackman collaborated with HR in managing all employment-related issues, including hiring, contract extensions, and leaves.

According to Rolling Stone, representatives from “Umbrella” claimed that Blackman had used their material without giving credit, going back on promises he had made. Blackman’s representative, however, dismissed these allegations as “wild mischaracterizations,” insisting that the showrunner intended to help budding writers.

The spokesperson shared that Mr. Blackman occasionally requested senior writers to revise certain scripts for a better finish, which is customary. However, his dedication extended beyond the show as he actively mentored and provided opportunities for team members to grow. Each writer received an episode assignment, while support staff were given writing assignments to progress in their careers and join the Writers Guild of America.

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2024-07-18 19:39