Chris Hardwick is still reeling from the sexual harassment claims made by his ex-girlfriend … that much is clear after he made an emotional statement to his ‘Talking Dead’ fans. Chris was back hosting the show Sunday night, and choked back tears…
Showing posts with label Hardwick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hardwick. Show all posts
Monday, August 13, 2018
Chris Hardwick Chokes Up on "Talking Dead" About Sexual Harassment Investigation
Chris Hardwick is still reeling from the sexual harassment claims made by his ex-girlfriend … that much is clear after he made an emotional statement to his ‘Talking Dead’ fans. Chris was back hosting the show Sunday night, and choked back tears…
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Chris Hardwick Reinstated at AMC After "Careful Review" of Sexual Abuse Claims
Chris Hardwick has a green light to return to hosting ‘Talking Dead’ after what AMC says was a thorough investigation into the sexual assault allegations made by his ex-girlfriend. The network announced Wednesday Hardwick has been reinstated, and…
Friday, June 22, 2018
Chloe Dykstra Speaks Out After Chris Hardwick Denies Allegations
Last week, Chris Hardwick was accused of emotional abuse and sexual assault by his ex-girlfriend, Chloe Dykstra. She didn’t name him, but readers were easily able to connect the dots.
Hardwick strongly denied the horrifying accusations, which included claims of intensely controlling behavior, of using her sexually, of sickening emotional manipulation, and of working to end her career after their breakup.
Now that a week has passed, Chloe is opening up about what the powerful responses to her story meant to her.
“It’s been an intense couple of days,” Chloe writes on Instagram. “I have a few final words to say before moving forward. The link is in my bio. Sending love to all.”
That link leads to Twitter, where Chloe prefaces her lengthy and heartfelt words.
“Thank you all,” she tweets. “From the bottom of my heart.”
This is when her actual message begins.
“Thank you all so, so much, Chloe writes. “The outpouring of support and love I’ve received over the past few days has been incredible and unexpected.”
Unexpected because so many women who accuse famous, popular men of misdeeds end up villified, harassed, threatened, and even doxxed by angry fans.
“The people who have come forward with both stories validating mine,” Chloe writes, she sends her thanks.
Many on social media responded by saying that they had been through an experience similar to the one that she described.
In addition to the validation, Chloe appreciates the people who sent “stories of their own personal experiences.”
That, she reveals, had a powerfully positive impact on her.
Chloe writes that those personal accounts “have helped me immensely with my own healing process.”
It can be powerfully therapeutic to realize that you are truly not alone in your experiences.
“After years of therapy and rebuilding,” Chloe writes. “Your support has done so much more for me than all of it combined.”
That makes sense, though we hope that her therapist doesn’t take it personally.
She is referring to a widespread phenomenon in which those who have been abused — whether it’s emotional abuse or brutal violence — second-guess their own experiences and almost try to convince themselves that what they describe wasn’t half bad.
Part of that is society’s pressures for survivors to keep silent. Part of that is the mind games that abusers play with their victims. Part of that is just human survival instincts run amok, basically.
“This whole experience has opened my eyes to so much,” Chloe’s post continues.
Chloe says that she has learned a lot, “and my heart goes out to those trapped in unhealthy or abusive relationships.”
She has sympathies for those “who haven’t found the strength to leave” these toxic situations.
That might sound victim-blamey, but it takes a tremendous amount of strength to break through the fog of manipulation and threats in which many abusers trap their victims.
Chloe also acknowledges “those suffering in the workplace due to abuses of power or unfair treatment.”
Not everyone can simply leave, and she knows that.
If you have a four-year-old child at home and you’re their only provider, you might grin and bear it as you get harassed or groped at work because you don’t feel like you have other options.
Her heart goes out to all of those people, “and especially to those that don’t feel their voice can be heard the way mine has.”
Chloe Dykstra has fans and followers, despite the alleged efforts to ruin her career after her breakup.
“It is my hope, and it always was,” Chloe writes. “That women and men on both sides of abuse will make changes to either protect themselves, or to stop the cycle of pain their own behavior can cause.”
Honestly, stop being awful is a very modest request of abusers.
“These behaviors are insidious and often hard to spot,” Chloe warns. “We make excuses for them and, bit by bit, we can lose ourselves entirely.”
“Despite recent events,” Chloe continues. “I hope that everyone personally affected by my story can to find their own closure.”
Closure can be a key part of recovery. It’s not always possible, but it’s helpful.
She suggests that they might do so “through the support of loved ones and friends, the way I have.”
Note that she doesn’t specifically identify family. She is probably very well aware that, for many people, family is the source of this nightmare, not the haven from it. That is so sad.
Chloe adds that “in addition, my heart goes out to those caught in the fallout.”
Sometimes, when you call out something bad that someone did, you lose friends or make things uncomfortable with others.
Some people lose half of their family when they flee their abuser.
Chloe feels that, even though doing so was absolutely terrifying, coming forward with her accusations was a huge weight off of her shoulders.
“Having been able to lift from my shoulders that which was weighing me down,” Chloe writes. “I’m ready to move forwards in my life, finally.”
That is so beautiful.
And moving forward is precisely what she intends to do “instead of looking back with fear and sadness.”
We wish her luck!
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Chris Hardwick and Chloe Dykstra Texts Show She Wanted to Reconcile After Breakup
Chris Hardwick severed ties with Chloe Dykstra in a lengthy text chronicling major issues in their relationship, and she pleaded to talk to him afterward to no avail … even months later. According to the text messages — obtained by TMZ — Chris…
Chris Hardwick and Chloe Dykstra Texts Show She Wanted to Reconcile After Breakup
Chris Hardwick severed ties with Chloe Dykstra in a lengthy text chronicling major issues in their relationship, and she pleaded to talk to him afterward to no avail … even months later. According to the text messages — obtained by TMZ — Chris…
Saturday, June 16, 2018
Chris Hardwick Dropped from Kaaboo Festival After Sexual Assault Claim
Chris Hardwick is losing another gig in the wake of his ex girlfriend, Chloe Dykstra, claiming he emotionally and sexually abused her. The Kaaboo Festival in Del Mar, CA says it’s pulled Hardwick out of the lineup for this year. The annual music and…
Chris Hardwick Dropped from Kaaboo Festival After Sexual Assault Claim
Chris Hardwick is losing another gig in the wake of his ex girlfriend, Chloe Dykstra, claiming he emotionally and sexually abused her. The Kaaboo Festival in Del Mar, CA says it’s pulled Hardwick out of the lineup for this year. The annual music and…
Chris Hardwick Strongly Denies Sexual Assault Allegations
Chris Hardwick has broken his silence.
The podcast and television host is at the center of a very serious scandal this week after an ex-girlfriend named Chloe Dystrka wrote a troubling and personal essay about her relationship with Hardwick.
In this esay, Dykstra details how an unnamed former boyfriend (strongly presumed to be Hardwick) forced her to have sex against her will and treated her with absolute disdain.
The 29-year old brings up this ex-boyfriend’s “controlling behavior” and how “rules were quickly established” shortly after the two started dating, including how she could not be friends with men and could not drink alcohol.
“I was not to speak in public places (elevators, cars with drivers, restaurants where tables were too close) as he believed that people recognized him and were listening to our conversations,” she said.
Dykstra added she was “terrified to piss him off, so I did what he said. Including let him sexually assault me. Regularly,” explaining:
“I was expected to be ready for him when he came home from work. Every night, I laid there for him, occasionally in tears. He called it ‘starfishing.’ He thought the whole idea was funny.”
Everyone who has read this account, conversely, finds it horrifying.
In response to the accusations, Nerdist, a content company founded by Hardwick, confirmed on Friday that it had severed ties with Hardwick.
It also made it clear that Hardwick has not been active with the company for years.
Dykstra even emphasized this same point in a Tweet late Friday, writing:
Before I take my break, I do want to address something re: the company he founded. As I understand it, the person has not been associated with that company for several years, and I hope that they will not suffer as a result of my essay.
Be kind to them, they are good people.
Now, at last, Hardwick has spoken out about these disturbing allegations.
“I was heartbroken to read Chloe’s post,” he said to open a statement to Deadline, adding:
“Our three year relationship was not perfect – we were ultimately not a good match and argues – even shouted at each other – but I loved her and did my best to uplift and support her as a partner and companion in any way and at no time did I sexually assault her.”
Dykstra did add the following in her confession:
“To be fair, I did go along with it out of fear of losing him. I’m still recovering from being sexually used (not in a super fun way) for three years.”
So we’re not about to speculate about what actually transpired between these two, except to say that Hardwick could be trying to walk a fine line and deny the specific allegation of assault, considering (in his mind and sort of by her own admission), Dykstra did not fight back.
“These are very serious allegations and not to be taken lightly which is why I’ve taken the day to consider how to respond,” Hardwick continued, expounding as follows:
“When we were living together, I found out that Chloe had cheated on me, and I ended the relationship.
“For several weeks after we broke up, she asked to get back together with me and even told me she wanted to have kids with me, ‘build a life’ with me and told me that I was ‘the one,’ but I did not want to be with someone who was unfaithful.
“I’m devastated to read that she is now accusing me of conduct that did not occur. l was blindsided by her post and always wanted the best for her.
“As a husband, a son, and future father, I do not condone any kind of mistreatment of women.”
(Above, Dykstra poses with Hardwick in 2013; below, she poses on a red carpet alone.)
Dykstra also claims that Hardwick trash talked her following their split, effectively ending her career in Hollywood.
Following the release of Hardwick’s statement, actor Robert Kazinsky took to Twitter to defend Dykstra.
“As @hardwick has chosen to deny Chloe’s account, I’ll take the opportunity to say I have seen the proof myself, I have seen the evidence first hand, I’ve seen the people who have come forward to tell @skydart how Chris ordered her blacklisted, there isn’t just one, there are many.
“For years the pain @skydart carried around was overwhelming, and even now @hardwick doesn’t have the decency to offer first an apology to the woman he destroyed intentionally.
“That’s all that mattered.”
Dykstra also said in her extended message that she contemplated suicide “many times,” but is now a much healthier and happier place.
She concluded:
“To the man who tried to ruin my future: A sincere and heartfelt apology could have made my last four years a hell of a lot easier.”
Chris Hardwick Denies Sexually Assaulting Chloe Dykstra
Chris Hardwick says Chloe Dykstrais lying about allegations he sexually abused her during their relationship. Hardwick says, “I was heartbroken to read Chloe’s post. Our three year relationship was not perfect — we were ultimately not a…
Chris Hardwick Denies Sexually Assaulting Chloe Dykstra
Chris Hardwick says Chloe Dykstrais lying about allegations he sexually abused her during their relationship. Hardwick says, “I was heartbroken to read Chloe’s post. Our three year relationship was not perfect — we were ultimately not a…
Chris Hardwick: Ousted from Nerdist Amist Sexual Misconduct Charges
We hate to say it, but…
Yep, him too.
In the wake of horrifying accusations against Chris Hardwick, Nerdist Industries – the content company founded this television host and personality – has severed all ties with the comedian.
The breaking news comes about one day after actress Chloe Dykstra accused an ex-boyfriend (who she did not name, yet who everyone assumed to be Hardwick) of abhorrent behavior during her time dating him.
“Chris Hardwick had no operational involvement with Nerdist for the two years preceding the expiration of his contract in December 2017,” said the company via statement on Friday, adding:
“He no longer has any affiliation with Legendary Digital Networks.
“The company has removed all reference to Mr. Hardwick even as the original Founder of Nerdist pending further investigation.”
Nerdist also posted the following message on Twitter, which aims to assist those who have been a victim of abuse.
In an essay written on Medium titled “Rose-Colored Glasses: A Confession,” Chloe Dykstra, a 29-year old actress who is the daughter of an ex-baseball player, outlined an allegedly abusive relationship with an unnamed ex-boyfriend that she endured in her early ’20s.
During this romance, Dykstra claims she suffered “long-term abuse,” sexual assault and career blacklisting.
Early in this relationship, Dykstra (pictured below) alleged that there were “rules” established by her lover that she had to follow, including reserving her nights for him… not having close male friends… not drinking alcohol … and not talking in public places out of fear people were listening due to his celebrity.
She wrote in this essay that, after the two started dating, she once turned down sex because she wasn’t feeling well.
Simple and understandable, right?
Not to this man.
“He responded, ‘I just want to remind you, the reason my last relationship didn’t work out was because of the lack of sex.’ It was a veiled threat. I succumbed,” she wrote, expounding:
“Every night, I laid there for him, occasionally in tears. He called it ‘starfishing.’ He thought the whole idea was funny.”
Totally and completely disgusting.
Again, Dykstra did not name Hardwick.
However, she Liked the Tweet of an Internet user who linked to her her story with the caption, “Chris Hardwick is trash.”
In her essay, the actress also explains that she was referring to a man nearly 20 years older who went from “a podcaster to a powerhouse CEO of his own company.”
This is a picture of Hardwick with Dykstra:
“I made the choice to accept his controlling behavior, as he’d just left his long-term girlfriend and I assumed that he was going through some serious emotional discomfort,” she wrote.
“This was a huge mistake.”
Dykstra wrote about that she pondered suicide multiple times and had reached the lowest point in her life when she was looking over the 101 freeway while standing on an overpass.
After three years, she ultimately left Hardwick for someone else.
In response, she claimed this boyfriend contacted companies she worked with to get her fired by threatening to never work with them.
Moreover, she said an unnamed woman she had trusted helped destroy her friendships.
At 25 years old, Dykstra said she was blacklisted.
Chloe ended her post by saying she is now in a “much better place” and:
“This story, post, whatever this is, serves as both closure for me as I say farewell to my twenties and stumble my way into my thirties, and it serves as a warning for every single one of you, regardless of gender…
“Please, please, keep an eye out for those red flags.”
Hardwick has not yet responded to this story.
He’s the latest in a long line of celebrities to be accused of sexual harassment, assault or misconduct.
We’ve listed many of them below:
Friday, June 15, 2018
Chris Hardwick Removed from Nerdist Site After Sexual Abuse Allegations Surface
Chris Hardwick’s been scrubbed from the Nerdist website he founded after accusations of emotional and sexual abuse by his ex-girlfriend, Chloe Dykstra, seem to clearly implicate him. Legendary Entertainment removed all references to Hardwick on the…
Chris Hardwick Accused of Sexual Assault By Actress Chloe Dykstra
You might know Chris Hardwick from the Walking Dead after-show, Talking Dead, or as host of the now-canceled Comedy Central series @Midnight, or simply as an ever-present figure in the corner of the media landscape most closely associated with “nerd culture.”
But Hardwick is trending on Twitter today not because of his work, but because of shocking allegations of abuse from a former girlfriend.
The popular host and creator of Nerdist Industries dated actress Chloe Dykstra for three years, and today, she published a Medium article detailing abuse she suffered at the hands of a man that many believe to be Hardwick.
Dykstra never mentions Hardwick by name, but details about the nature of their relationship and his career make it clear who she’s accusing.
The 29-year-old says that several years ago she began a relationship with a man who was nearly 20 years her senior, and who
“I was expected to be [sexually] ready for him when he came home from work. Every night, I laid there for him, occasionally in tears,” she writes.
“He thought the whole idea was funny. To be fair, I did go along with it out of fear of losing him.”
Dykstra goes on to claim that the abuse began just weeks into her relationship with Hardwick and left indelible scars on her psyche.
“I’m still recovering from being sexually used (not in a super fun way) for three years,” she says.
Dykstra claims that Hardwick manipulated and intimidated her in such way as to ensure she would continue to comply with his sexual demands.
“’I just want to remind you, the reason my last relationship didn’t work out was because of the lack of sex,’” she recalls him saying.
Dykstra says that even with the progress yielded by the #MeToo movement in recent months, she still expects to be interrogated and harassed on social media.
And sadly, if GamerGate and other recent examples of toxic nerd culture run amok are any indication, she’s not wrong in that assumption:
“It will probably hurt me now too, despite the #MeToo movement. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a ways to go,” Dykstra writes.
Earlier today, Dykstra tweeted a message of gratitude for those who offered support online, writing:
“I quietly posted an article today, unlisted on Medium. It clearly made the rounds. I’m overwhelmed and I want to thank all of you for your support and kind words- they mean so much to me.”
Hardwick married Lydia Hearst in 2016.
He has yet to respond to Dykstra’s allegations.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Chris Hardwick Says J.J. Abrams Earned His Return to "Star Wars"
Chris Hardwick doesn’t have a problem with J.J. Abrams being back at the helm for “Star Wars: Episode IX” … ‘cause he’s proved he can do it, and deserves another shot. We got Chris, certified comic and sci-fi nerd, Wednesday in Bev Hills, and…
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Chris Hardwick Says "Wonder Woman" Star Gal Gadot Deserves RDJ Money
Chris Hardwick thinks Wonder Woman’s paycheck needs to match Iron Man’s … ‘cause the actress playing her is just as good as Robert Downey Jr., if not better. We got Chris — who’s a certified comic book nerd(ist) for this kind of stuff — and…
Chris Hardwick Says "Wonder Woman" Star Gal Gadot Deserves RDJ Money
Chris Hardwick thinks Wonder Woman’s paycheck needs to match Iron Man’s … ‘cause the actress playing her is just as good as Robert Downey Jr., if not better. We got Chris — who’s a certified comic book nerd(ist) for this kind of stuff — and…
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Chris Hardwick Raps Bobby Brown"s "Ghostbusters II" Song (VIDEO)
Don’t ever dare question Chris Hardwick’s memory when it comes to Bobby Brown’s song from “Ghostbusters II.” Chris and wife Lydia Hearst were leaving the Marie Claire Image Makers party at Catch when he noticed one of the paps wearing a…
Monday, September 14, 2015
Lydia Hearst and Chris Hardwick: Engaged!
They do! Actually, correct: They will!
According to a very sweet Instagram message, model and actress Lydia Hearst has agreed to marry Nerdist CEO Chris Hardwick.
“I said YES!!!!!!” the 30-year-old heiress (her grandfather is the late publishing titan William Randolph Hearst) wrote as a caption to this romantic photo.
“Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite.
“You completely swept me off my feet. You have shown me what it feels like to be loved and I love you with all my heart. My life is better because you are in it @nerdist.”
It’s unclear just where Hearst and Hardwick are in this image, but they are atop some kind of tower and they are engaged in a serious lip lock.
Hardwick, meanwhile, Instagrammed a close-up of a massive diamond as a means of announcing this same exciting news.
“This ring belonged to her grandmother Catherine Hearst and @patriciahearst has graciously and wonderfully passed it down to me to give to Lydia,” he wrote.
“IT’S OFFICIAL!!! What an absolutely perfect and amazing night!! I love this woman with all my heart.”
Awww, how beautiful! We send our best wishes to Lydia, Chris and all the famous people who have gotten engaged in 2015:
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