Report: Executive Producer And More Quit ‘Talking Dead’ After Chris Hardwick Reinstated
AMC recently cleared Chris Hardwick’s name and reinstated the talk show host for upcoming episodes of Talking Dead. However, a new report indicates not everyone is happy to see Hardwick return.
The Wrap reports a “female executive producer and a “handful” of the approximately 25 people who work on the talk show show left after Hardwick was reinstated last month, according to multiple individuals with knowledge of the situation.”
The walkout apparently came after Hardwick gathered the Talking Dead staffers in what The Wrap describes as a “very emotional” meeting. They also described Hardwick’s mannerisms as “apologetic and contrite.”
Hardwick was accused of sexual assault by ex-girlfriend Chole Dykstra. Dyksta wrote an essay on Medium about an unnamed partner who she claimed sexually assaulted her as well as exhibited controlling behavior. While Dykstra didn’t name Hardwick, the details she provided in the essay clearly pointed to him. However, the accusations would see AMC suspend Hardwick from his talk shows as well as his speaking panels at San Diego Comic-Con. His name was also scrubbed from the Nerdist website as a co-founder. It was restored after the AMC investigation.
Hardwick received quite a bit of support from many of the women in his life including his wife, and a number of other ex-girlfriends. Thor actress Jamie Alexander even defended Hardwick by promoting a petition for his reinstatement.
The internal investigation cleared Hardwick and AMC issued a statement:
“Following a comprehensive assessment by AMC, working with Ivy Kagan Bierman of the firm Loeb & Loeb, who has considerable experience in this area, Chris Hardwick will return to AMC as the host of Talking Dead and Talking with Chris Hardwick. We take these matters very seriously and given the information available to us after a very careful review, including interviews with numerous individuals, we believe returning Chris to work is the appropriate step.”
Dykstra responded to Hardwick’s reinstatement via Twitter.
I originally wrote my essay so I could move on with my life, and now I intend to do so. Thank you, again, to those who have supported me during this. pic.twitter.com/sjBEKGpY7v
— Chloe Dykstra (@skydart) July 26, 2018
Nevertheless, Hardwick is still expected to return to Talking Dead this Sunday following the mid-season premiere of Fear the Walking Dead. He also recently appeared as a guest judge on America’s Got Talent last week.
What do you think of the walkout? Is there more to this story? Or is this faux outrage?
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