The Umbrella Academy showrunner accused of 'toxic' behaviour

Ahead of the arrival of the fourth and final season of The Umbrella Academy on Netflix, showrunner Steve Blackman faces accusations of mistreatment from former staffers. Blackman has denied these allegations.

According to a report by Rolling Stone, 12 former writers and support staffers have described working on the show as one of the most tumultuous periods of their careers. These former staffers, who mostly chose to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, accuse Blackman of fostering a hostile workplace. "When we feel like one person holds the keys to our career, it’s hard,” one support staffer said. “They’re saying, ‘Hey, write these scenes,’ and making all these big promises, and you pour everything you have into the job only to be discarded after. It’s just devastating."

A HR complaint filed in January 2023 detailed accusations of Blackman's "toxic, bullying, manipulative, and retaliatory behavior." Allegations included pitting staffers against one another, creating an environment of fear and distrust, taking credit for others' work, and making lewd remarks perceived as sexist, homophobic, and transphobic. Two additional complaints were made by a writer and an actress.

An investigation by UCP in Spring 2023 cleared Blackman of these allegations. However, many of the staffers who came forward claim they were not contacted during the investigation. A UCP statement affirmed the company's commitment to a safe and respectful workplace, noting that concerns are "promptly reviewed, thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action is taken."

One writer alleged Blackman retaliated against staff who appeared disloyal, claiming their contributions were scrapped after expressing that Blackman seemed harsher on female writers. Another writer noted, "You have to tread carefully with Steve because there have been times when people stand up to him and then their status is diminished or they are taken off the show. If you push back, he’s going to punish you for it."

Jesse McKeown, co-showrunner for season four, also claimed mistreatment, stating his role was diminished after he sided with a writer in a pay dispute. "I always sort of carried that around thinking, ‘OK, that was clear retaliation, [but] he would never do that to me.’ It happened to me eventually, and a whole bunch of other people in between," McKeown said.

Aeryn Michelle Williams, a writer for seasons two to four, described the workplace as "sometimes chaotic" and mentioned learning about toxic behavior only after leaving the show. Another female writer noted, "I found it to be an incredibly sexist environment. If you were female, you were treated with hostility, or like you were stupid."

In response, Blackman, through a representative, provided statements from three sources who have worked closely with him, refuting the claims. One senior producer suggested that "everyone probably believes their own truth," while another acknowledged the chaotic nature of show business but denied witnessing any toxic behavior.

Blackman’s spokesperson stated, “These allegations from a handful of disgruntled employees are completely false and outrageous, and in no way reflect the collaborative, respectful, and successful working environment Mr. Blackman has cultivated.”