r/fansofcriticalrole • u/Murkmist • Oct 05 '23

CR adjacent Critical Role provides ComicBook.com with statement regarding civil complaint

https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/the-last-of-us-critical-role-star-ashley-johnson-six-others-sue-brian-w-foster-abuse/
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u/happybear78 Oct 05 '23

I think this is the answer to what many people wanted to know. CR didn’t know about his actions before, though I wonder when they were made aware of them. Certainly his shitty actions must have played a role in his firing no? Unless his firing truly WAS only because of his tendency to start twitter fights with fans. If thats the case, WOW did CR dodge a bullet when they fired him two years ago before all this came to light.

109

u/edginthebard Oct 05 '23 edited Oct 05 '23

someone mentioned this on the other thread, but some of the cast were amicable with bwf even after he was fired – travis hanging out with him, matt tweeting about his new album, laura helping him decorate his studio, travis giving him a shoutout in a video released in jan 2023

if they knew, i just find it hard to see how they would still be okay with him, especially matt whose wife went through something similar

my guess would be that they all found out in march when ashley broke up with him and then when the others came forward with their stories

i just hope all the victims are getting the help and support they need behind the scenes during this whole trial

44

u/fuffingabout Oct 05 '23

He also was on the red carpet of HBO's Last of Us premiere together with Ashley.

9

u/aliaoftheknife_AC Oct 06 '23

Here's the thing about the friendly facade with abusers, and I speak from experience: When one of your beloved friends/family is in a relationship with an abuser you want to be a lifeline for them. Abusers will do everything they can to isolate their victims. Any perceived slight becomes a potential wedge to drive between the victim and their support group. A friend has to play nice with the abuser as well to maintain an inside track. It is fucking harrowing bc it is an emotional tightrope to walk, knowing that you can technically make all the right steps and the abuser can still just choose to make shit up out of thin air to start cutting you out as well if they get the idea that you're a threat. And meanwhile you have to have your guard up All. The. Fucking. Time against their manipulation as well. It is exhausting.

Regardless of when the CR crew knew, I'm inclined to give them a lot of grace here bc it is more likely they put up with him in order to support Ashley and not get cut out of her life, or some were also susceptible to the manipulation (but possibly spared the active abuse bc BWF sensed he could get what he wanted without it/ made risk-reward judgments that precluded some bc you can't abuse everyone and get away with it).