Steve Blackman's tenure as showrunner of 'The Umbrella Academy' has been marred with numerous allegations of workplace misconduct despite the show's immense popularity.
- Jun 30, 2024
AceShowbiz - Months before the February 2019 premiere of "The Umbrella Academy", showrunner Steve Blackman had confidence in delivering Netflix a hit series. Indeed, 45 million households tuned in to the first season, making it Netflix's third-most-watched show of the year.
Anticipating a quick greenlight for Season Two, Blackman began interviewing new writers, including a female writing duo. However, allegations later arose claiming that Blackman was displeased upon discovering one of the writers was pregnant, allegedly stating he felt "ripped off."
These claims formed part of a January 2023 human-resources complaint filed to Universal Content Productions (UCP), which, in tandem with interviews of former staffers, painted Blackman as a showrunner who allegedly fostered a toxic workplace. Multiple sources described experiences marked by manipulative and retaliatory behavior, allegations that Blackman has denied.
In conversations with Rolling Stone, 12 former writers and support staff shared that their time on "The Umbrella Academy" was tumultuous, with some even receiving warnings against taking the job. Yet despite these alarms, the UCP investigation conducted in spring 2023 largely cleared Blackman of accusations, though many named in the complaint claimed never to have been contacted.
The allegations against Blackman parallel larger, systemic issues within Hollywood, where the unchecked power of showrunners can result in exploitation. High expectations and the hierarchical nature of film and television production can exacerbate such issues. Writers and support staff join these teams eager to learn and advance, but the working environment can prove injurious and stifling, especially under alleged retaliatory practices.
Despite Blackman's public denials and statements of innocence, a key HR investigation concluded that he had made inappropriate remarks, a violation for which he was reportedly "reminded" of professional conduct policies. Parallel allegations of sexist, homophobic, and transphobic remarks further dampened his reputation, despite high-profile support for the inclusion of trans storylines, like that of Elliot Page's transition on the show.
The broader industry trend of outing toxic workplaces sees Blackman's case as reflective of Hollywood's ongoing struggle with accountability. This struggle is marked by high-profile controversies from other showrunners and producers like Damon Lindelof of "Lost" and Dan Schneider of Nickelodeon, highlighting a persistent challenge even amid cultural shifts pushing for zero tolerance for bad behavior.
Former staffers at "The Umbrella Academy" emphasized the need for robust protections and reliable recourse for industry workers, asserting that despite complaints and due diligence, larger systemic changes are necessary to prevent abuse and support creative talent in enriching the industry without compromise.
