The Umbrella Academy showrunner denies allegations of toxic behavior

Steve Blackman, showrunner of Netflix's ‘The Umbrella Academy’, denies allegations from a Rolling Stone exposé.

Steve Blackman, the showrunner of Netflix's hit fantasy series ‘The Umbrella Academy’, has denied allegations of creating a toxic work environment as reported in a Rolling Stone exposé. According to the report, which cites a Human Resources complaint from early 2023 and 12 anonymous sources, Blackman is accused of bullying and harassing staff, particularly women.

The Rolling Stone article alleges that Blackman insulted staff in private after praising them publicly, used their ideas without giving them credit, and employed belittling tactics. One of the more severe allegations includes the firing of a female writer who had taken maternity leave and was set to return with a month remaining on her contract.

In response to these allegations, Blackman issued a statement through his representative, calling the claims "completely false and outrageous." The statement emphasized Blackman's successful leadership over six years and four seasons, highlighting the show's dedicated team and enthusiastic fan base. "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," the statement read.

The Rolling Stone report also mentioned texts from Blackman that referred to Elliot Page’s transition being incorporated into the show's plot. In one text, Blackman reportedly expressed frustration, stating, “Elliot [Page] wants to come out as trans on the show. As Ivan. Oh my f—king God. Kill me now.” Blackman's representative clarified that his frustration was due to the need for a significant rewrite under a tight deadline, stressing the importance of handling the matter with sensitivity and care. Elliot Page has publicly expressed satisfaction with how his transition was portrayed on the show.

Additional allegations against Blackman include making inappropriate comments about a woman's appearance and attempting to replace a writer using what was described as a "studio cover." The Writer’s Guild of America reportedly intervened when Blackman initially credited himself as the sole writer on an episode that ultimately listed four other writers.

Universal Content Productions conducted an investigation in 2023 following the HR complaint. The investigation found that Blackman had made "inappropriate and unprofessional remarks" and used "foul and derogatory language." Despite these findings, several accusers criticized the probe for not contacting them. After the investigation, Blackman's $50 million deal with Netflix remained intact.

‘The Umbrella Academy’ is set to conclude with its fourth season, premiering on Netflix on August 8. Netflix has extended its partnership with Blackman and his company, Irish Cowboy Productions. Blackman is now working on adapting a series version of the PlayStation game ‘Horizon Zero Dawn’ and a sci-fi limited series titled ‘Orbital’.