Over a year has passed since T.J. Miller announced he would be leaving HBO’s Silicon Valley to do “different things” (like The Emoji Movie), thereby leaving Erlich Bachman to rot in an opium den for a potentially awkward amount of time. Deadpool 2 notwithstanding, whether any of these “different things” will come to fruition remains to be seen following a woman’s accusations last December that Miller had sexually assaulted her. Though as Superstore writer Owen Ellickson pointed out, male comics are still booking him for shows, which prompted former Silicon Valley guest star Alice Wetterlund to speak out online.
Wetterlund, who recently starred in TBS’ underappreciated People of Earth and guested in GLOW season two, worked alongside Miller and the gang in seasons two and three of the hit Mike Judge series. And according to her tweets on the matter, working with Miller was a “nightmare” and the “almost all male,” cast and showrunners “enabled him and were complicit in his unprofessionalism”:
Yes! It is definitely time to rehabilitate TJ Miller’s career! We can’t afford to lose talent at a time like this, we need more—not less—comedic hijinks such as *checks notes* calling in a fake bomb threat
— Alice Wetterlund (@alicewetterlund) July 17, 2018
Thank you! I hope to not ruin it for you, but TJ Miller was a bully and petulant brat and pretty much everyone who had any power on that (almost all male) set, including the male cast members, enabled him and were complicit in his unprofessionalism. They can fuck off forever. https://t.co/YxGHiSYMrJ
— Alice Wetterlund (@alicewetterlund) July 18, 2018
I’m pretty open about this, and I don’t know if other women on the show had a different experience than me, but it was kind of a nightmare.
— Alice Wetterlund (@alicewetterlund) July 18, 2018
As Vulture points out, Wetterlund spent some time responding to supporters and detractors alike. When one Twitter user asked why she stayed on for so many episodes, she explained that she “needed the job” and that “it was my first recurring role” ever. “I had no idea it wasn’t always toxic and weird. Now I know!”
Not a dumb question. One, I needed the job, two, it was my first recurring role and I had no idea it wasn’t always toxic and weird. Now I know!
— Alice Wetterlund (@alicewetterlund) July 18, 2018
Aside from the accusation of sexual assault, an “intoxicated” Miller was arrested for calling in a false bomb threat against several women on a train in April.
UPDATE: In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO provided an official comment on Wetterlund’s tweeted claims:
While this is the first time we have heard Alice Wetterlund comment on her experiences on Silicon Valley, we are disappointed to learn of her concerns. HBO and the producers have always taken very seriously our responsibility to create a welcoming and congenial environment for everyone who works on the show.
(Via Vulture)
