Chris Hardwick, founder of the Nerdist podcast network and website, was accused by his former girlfriend, Chloe Dykstra, of years of sexual and emotional abuse when they were dating. Dykstra didn’t name Hardwick in her Medium post where she made the allegations, but all the information she provided pointed squarely at Hardwick:
I quietly posted an article today, unlisted on Medium. It clearly made the rounds. I’m overwhelmed and I want to thank all of you for your support and kind words- they mean so much to me. I may take some time off the internet, please know your support means everything to me.
— Chloe “No Middle Sliders” Dykstra (@skydart) June 15, 2018
Legendary Entertainment, who purchased Nerdist from Hardwick, quickly scrubbed him off the website:
Nerdist has scrubbed Chris Hardwick from its site after Chloe Dykstra abuse claims https://t.co/QL2RsitCqx pic.twitter.com/grZtY6Wjxz
— Motherboard (@motherboard) June 16, 2018
And people who know Hardwick were quick to believe Dykstra as well:
https://twitter.com/MildlyAmused/status/1007597967900016640
As of today I no longer write for @nerdist. The editorial staff is absolutely fantastic but I don't want my work or name affiliated in any way with Chris Hardwick. https://t.co/QJuZDo821T
— Scott Weinberg (@scottEweinberg) June 15, 2018
Well, not everyone:
Today is going to be an ugly one in the nerd entertainment writer field, as we get to see exactly who stands with Chris Hardwick and who believes women as a matter of course.
— Ani Bundel (@anibundel) June 15, 2018
Hardwick’s best friend, Twitchy regular Will Wheaton, said he needs time before he makes a statement:
I'm shocked, and I'm sure you'll understand that before I'm ready to make a public statement about my best friend to 3 million+ people, I need some time to process what's going on and put words to my thoughts. Thanks for listening and understanding.
— Wil 'this account mocks fascists' Wheaton (@wilw) June 15, 2018
What BS.
Wil Wheaton can’t speak out against Chris Hardwick without implicating himself in everything that went down and not sound like a lying hypocrite.
They’re best friends. He knew.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 16, 2018
Hardwick was also accused of blacklisting women in the industry:
In case you missed what this is about: Chris Hardwick is accused of extensive sexual abuse and blacklisting women in the entertainment industry. https://t.co/NMTZYUlk2P
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 16, 2018
Time to speak up, Wesley!
Speak up, Wesley. @wilw
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 16, 2018
Or maybe it’s too late:
So your choices were
"I believe her. I'll work out the logistics of my friendship later." and
"I need time to process this, cause I'm all in my feels right now"
and you went with the latter? https://t.co/bcz8jFMMRY— Jessica ? ? ? (@ranouttacake) June 16, 2018
Time? What's there to think about? https://t.co/tv1T3Yem58
— Mr. Stoning (@ryanbytestoo) June 16, 2018
It’s not hard, really:
Literally all you have to say is violence is wrong. https://t.co/sS3CljYKK5
— . (@poetryinthwater) June 15, 2018
But he didn’t say it, did he?
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