Deadline has reported thatDisneyis severing ties with Savage following complaints of alleged misconduct while on the set ofThe Wonder Years. While the nature of the allegations is unclear and Savage’s reps have yet to comment as of now, Deadline reports that the behavior supposedly pertained to verbal outbursts and inappropriate behavior on set.
A public statement made by a rep for 20th Television said the following to Deadline following Savage’s dismissal, “Recently, we were made aware of allegations of inappropriate conduct by Fred Savage, and as is policy, an investigation was launched. Upon its completion, the decision was made to terminate his employment as an executive producer and director ofThe Wonder Years.” Even thoughThe Wonder Yearshas not been renewed as of now, despite the allegations against Savage, the show itself has not been canceled.
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This is not the first time Savage has found himself in hot water while on set for the shows he’s been involved in. Savage and his co-star from the originalThe Wonder YearsJason Hervey were sued for sexual harassment back when the show first aired. Although co-star Alley Mills stated that the claims were ridiculous, there was an out-of-court settlement that she said ultimatelyled to the show’s cancellation. Savage was again accused of inappropriate conduct when a crew member on the set of his 2015 seriesThe Grinderaccused him of attacking and harassing her. Although 20th television says they found no evidence to substantiate the claims, that also led to an out-of-court settlement.
Even though Savage individually was not punished for his actions until now, there was clearly enough evidence against him all three times that the networks deemed it necessary to pay his accusers off or let him go. This is an era when an entertainer may never find work again if there’s enough evidence to prove one instance of inappropriate conduct. Savage has now been involved in three of them. It’s time either he gets help or he loses his good standing.
Savage may not have had drug issues and/or legal problems like most prominent child stars have when they enter adulthood, but it seems clear he has issues that he needs to work out. It’s evident that his actions can no longer be swept under the rug because these issues matter enough tocreate a toxic work environmentif they’re not handled properly. The biggest irony to all of this is that Savage played a sketchy teacher who abused his position of power with his female students in his brother’s sitcomBoy Meets Worldover 23 years ago.
The Wonder Yearscan currently be streamed on ABC.com
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