Trigger warning: Don't read if you are triggered by mention of abuse and sexual assault.
Another day, another male celebrity stands accused of abusive behavior. The Verge is reporting that actress Chloe Dykstra wrote a post on Medium about an ex-boyfriend who was abusive during their three-year-long relationship and that after breaking up, he blacklisted her from getting work. Dykstra doesn't name the ex, but it's widely believed and all but confirmed to be Nerdist founder and game and talk show host, Chris Hardwick. Hardwick has denied the allegations, but then again, that's standard operating procedure. The allegations themselves are disturbing. Dykstra claims that she was forced to basically become subservient to Hardwick, never going out at night and not having any male friends. The most sickening thing, however, is that Hardwick required her to have sex even when she didn't want to. I don't know if that fits the definition, but that sure as hell sounds like rape. She goes on to detail how she went through dramatic weight and hair loss during the three-year ordeal.
Thus so far, Hardwick has been disavowed faster than an operative from the IMF by both AMC and The Nerdist. Meanwhile, NBC is "accessing" the situation and his future as host of that game show, The Wall.
My take on this? If the allegations are true, Chris Hardwick is a huge fucking asshole who deserves to be blacklisted permanently exiled to the proverbial wilderness. And I generally believe women when they accuse men of abuse because it takes a lot of courage and nerves to speak out about it. Especially when it's against men who can and will sabotage their careers. I support and applaud Chloe Dykstra for her bravery.
I liked Chris Hardwick and this news is just plain disappointing. The fact that he was able to hide such an abusive personality behind the facade of being a "nice, nerdy guy" is troubling because it automatically makes one wonder who else is hiding their true self behind a mask. He was sexually abusive towards Chloe Dykstra in addition to the emotional abuse is even more disturbing.
No, Chris Hardwick is an asshole who needs to crawl under a rock and never creep back out.
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