When it comes to the #MeToo movement and allegations against celebrities and people in power within the entertainment industry, most of the time, there is little proof against the claims of sexual misconduct. In a rare instance, the allegations against Bryan Fuller by Sam Wineman have people who have worked with both producers in an uproar. Most claim that Wineman’s allegations are false and egregious.
The Allegations Against Bryan Fuller
Sam Wineman, who served as director and producer on a horror documentary series called “Queer for Fear,” filed a lawsuit against Fuller for cultivating and maintaining a hostile work environment because of discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, discrimination and retaliation. A lengthy complaint states that Fuller sexually assaulted Wineman several times throughout production in 2021.
Incidents he claimed occurred were sexual assault disguised as cracking his back, bullying and sexual discussions on set. Wineman claims that AMC Networks, Steakhause Productions and Shudder ignored warning signs, permitted Fuller’s behavior and fired Wineman out of retaliation.
Boy I hope Sam Wineman is ready for a crushing defamation lawsuit. https://t.co/WN81oTBnvF
— devincf (@devincf) November 2, 2023
The Evidence Against Sam Wineman
Before anyone judges Bryan Fuller, it is critical to note that new information about the allegations is still being released. Those who worked on the docuseries with Fuller and Wineman are beginning to come forward in defense of Fuller.
14 people have come forward, all of whom worked on the television series, to defend Bryan. Of those 14, they all have a range of responsibilities as part of the show’s overall team, including interview subjects, a sound mixer and an editor. Most of the team claims that Fuller ran a tight-knit group that was always professional.
Chelsea Shepherd, who oversaw every part of the production, claims to feel compelled to stand up against Wineman’s allegations. She claims she would have never allowed anything like Wineman’s allegations to occur on set. Instead, she claims that Bryan and Sam had creative differences throughout the production.
Other allegations state that Sam Wineman was inexperienced and had a different vision for the show. Initially, he wanted a documentary based on his personal sexuality and how movies helped to shape it. Some production members have claimed that AMC disagreed with this approach and Wineman disliked Fuller’s control over the direction. When Shudder executive Nick Lazo chose to fire him, House and Shepherd claimed he was not doing a quality job.
As for claims of sexual discussions, the team alleges that all talk remained appropriate and was never directed toward any one person. Any discussion regarding sex was directly connected to the docuseries on the LGBT+ community and its relationship to the horror genre.
According to Fuller’s legal team, they will be countersuing for defamation.
What To Believe About Bryan Fuller
The entertainment industry and fans are still trying to determine how to feel about the lawsuit against Bryan Fuller. Currently, Fuller has multiple people speaking on his behalf and coming to his defense. As his lawyers claim that they have documentation that proves Wineman’s claims to be false, people should take a step back before passing judgment. The evidence seems to exonerate Fuller.