Ein erneuter Heldenfall scheint in dieser Woche die Comicwelt heimzusuchen. Nachdem jüngst DC-Zeichner und -Autor Cameron Stewart aufgrund schwerer Anschuldigungen sexuellen Fehlverhaltens – Sexual Misconduct – vom Verlag fallengelassen wurde, wurden nun ähnliche Vorwürfe in Bezug auf Comicautor Warren Ellis (u. a. „Transmetropolitan“) geäußert. Woraufhin dieser ein Statement zum Thema veröffentlichte.
Dem ging voraus, dass Autorin und Herausgeberin Katie West Ellis beschuldigte, von ihm sexuell suggestive Texte erhalten zu haben. Zudem solle Ellis West mehrfach aufgefordert haben, ihr Nackfotos zu senden. West postete dies in einem mittlerweile gelöschten Tweet am 16. Juni 2020. Am Folgetag eröffnete sie einen neuen Thread auf Twitter zum Thema.
Kurz nach dem ursprünglich gelöschten Tweet Wests meldete sich Musikerin Meredith Yayanos (The Parlour Trick) und teilte ihre Erfahrungen mit Warren Ellis, die in eine ähnliche Kerbe schlugen.
Die Autorin Jhayne Holmes veröffentlichte anschließend Screenshots diverser Mails, die sie im Jahr 2009 von Ellis erhalten habe. In diesen Mails schrieb Ellis ihr anscheinend Texte wie „39…27…38. I always said you had the body of a showgirl. Now you have the body of a GENETICALLY ENGINEERED showgirl.“ oder „I remember how you moved under my hand.“ Bezugnehmend auf die Anschuldigungen veröffentlichte Warren Ellis daher nachfolgendes Statement auf Twitter:
„I have never considered myself famous or powerful, to the point where I’ve made a lot of bad jokes about it for twenty-odd years. It had never really occurred to me that other people didn’t see it the same way—that I was not engaging as an equal when gifted with attention, but acting from a position of power and privilege. I did not take that into account in a number of my personal interactions and this was a mistake and I own it.
While I’ve made many bad choices in my past, and I’ve said a lot of wrong things, let me be clear, I have never consciously coerced, manipulated, or abused anyone, nor have I ever assaulted anybody. But I was ignorant of where I was operating from at a time I should have been clear and for that I accept 100% responsibility.
I hurt people deeply. I am ashamed for these mistakes and I am profoundly sorry. I will not speak against other people’s personal truths, and I will not expose them to the toxicity of the current discourse. I should have been more aware, more present, and more respectful of people’s feelings and for that I apologise.
I have had friendships and relationships end, sometimes in bitterness, often due to my own failings, and I continue to regret and apologise for the pain I have caused.
I have always tried to aid and support women in their lives and careers, but I have hurt many people that I had no intention of hurting. I am culpable. I take responsibility for my mistakes. I will do better and for that, I apologise.
I apologise to my friends and collaborators for having created this situation, and I hope they will be treated kindly. Mistakes and poor choices in my personal life are not on them, but only on me.
We have a responsibility to one another, every day. And I have, in my past, let too many people down. I hope to one day become worthy of the trust and kindness that was placed in me by colleagues and friends.
I will continue to listen, learn, and strive to be a better human being. I have sought to make amends with people, as I have been made aware of my transgressions, and will continue to do so. I have apologised, I apologise, and will continue to apologise and take total responsibility for my actions without equivocation.
I am going to be quiet now, to listen more than I speak, for other voices matter far more than my own right now.“
Dieser Beitrag erschien zuerst auf: bizzaroworldcomics.de
Emanuel Brauer ist Betreiber des Comic-Blogs bizzaroworldcomics.de, Autor für das Comic-Fachmagazin Comixene sowie auch für Comic.de.
