Former Batwoman star Ruby Rose is speaking out about why she left the CW superhero drama after just one season, alleging a toxic work environment on set and saying she was forced off the show.
Rose took to her Instagram account on Wednesday and claimed she was forced off the show. The actor alleges she was forced back to work by production just 10 days after spinal surgery and there were serious injuries to crew members.
The actor called out Batwoman showrunner Caroline Dries, executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter, and The CW all by name in her long post to her Instagram story.
“I will come for you so what happened to me never happens to another person again,” Rose writes. “And so I can finally take back my life and the truth. Shame on you.”
Rose underwent surgery on two herniated discs on her back after getting injured on set while filming a stunt early on in Season 1. She alleges that production told her to return to work 10 days after surgery or “the whole crew and cast would be fired and I’d let everyone down because [then WB Television Group head] Peter Roth said he wouldn’t recast and I just lost the studio millions (by getting injured on his set).”
The 35-year-old actor claimed Dries wanted to push for filming to continue through the Covid-19 pandemic despite other shows like Riverdale and The Flash being shut down. She also alleged a crew member suffered third-degree burns and a production assistant was left quadriplegic after accidents on-set.
Rose went on to write that she did not quit the show and claims the showrunners ruined the Batwoman character. However, she maintained her stance that she did not quit the show.
“To my dear, dear fans still asking if I will return to that awful show, I wouldn’t return for any amount of money nor if a gun were to my head … NOR DID I QUIT. I DID NOT QUIT, they ruined Kate Kane and they destroyed Batwoman, not me. I followed orders, and if I wanted to stay I was going to have to sign my rights away. Any threats, any bullying tactics, or blackmail would not make me stand down,” she wrote.
She went on to claim that two of the show’s main actors Camrus Johnson and Dougray Scott were treating other crew members and production badly along with the female actors on set. Scott left the show after the completion of its second season.
Warner Bros. Entertainment responded to Rose’s allegations in a statement, confirming she was fired but placing blame on the actor and denying all claims.
“Despite the revisionist history that Ruby Rose is now sharing online aimed at the producers, the cast and crew, the network, and the Studio, the truth is that Warner Bros. Television had decided not to exercise its option to engage Ruby for season two of Batwoman based on multiple complaints about workplace behavior that were extensively reviewed and handled privately out of respect for all concerned,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Scott also denied all the allegations against him from Rose and confirmed she was not brought back for Season 2 “based on multiple complaints about her workplace behaviour.”
“I absolutely and completely refute the defamatory and damaging claims made against me by her; they are entirely made up and never happened,” he said.
Javicia Leslie joined the show in the second season. Leslie plays Ryan Wilder, who takes on the mantle of Batwoman.
Batwoman airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.
Story updated with statements from WBTV and Scott.
