‘Kill Me Now’: Umbrella Academy Showrunner Accused of Transphobic Response to Elliot Page Transition

Netflix’s hit series The Umbrella Academy is gearing up for its fourth and final season, but ahead of its premiere, the show is getting some unwanted exposure after a series of accusations against showrunner Steve Blackman. Among them was also the allegation that Blackman wasn’t on board with Elliot Page’s transitioning on the show.

Per Rolling Stone, The Umbrella Academy showrunner wasn’t a fan of Page’s character’s coming out as trans, but he has his own version of the story. In The Umbrella Academy, Page initially played a character named Vanya, who was referred to as female. In the third season, as he publicly transitioned, the character also came out as trans, going by Viktor, but initially, the idea was to use ‘Ivan,’ which was short for Page’s original character.

In text messages provided to HR in a complaint in January 2023, he wrote, “Elliot wants to come out as trans on the show. As Ivan. Oh my fucking God. Kill me now.” Blackman responded to the claims, and his complaint was about the incoming workload, as the season had already been written, which would’ve meant many rewrites to reflect the change. “Faced with a tremendous undertaking — a complete rewrite under a wildly compressed timeline and the responsibility to handle this with sensitivity and care — Mr. Blackman commented on his stress level related to this and other responsibilities of managing a show and a large team,” a rep for Blackman said.

Elliot Page praised Blackman’s support previously, noting to TIME100 that, “If anything, [Blackman] was the one who was very insistent on immediately having it be a part of the show and supported me to be able to access the care I was hoping to get at that time.” Blackman addressed the change in an interview with TVLine, noting, “We wanted to tell a story that was really pro-trans, authentic, sensitive, and show that families can accept trans people in their lives, and it does not have to be a negative thing, as it’s often portrayed in the media,” Blackman said.

In the expose, other sources claimed the showrunner would often make homophobic and transphobic jokes. “He found it very funny, like the butt of a joke,” one says. However, he also found a way to turn the jokes around. “He could be very good at dropping something that starts to be transphobic or homophobic, like, ‘They’re a he/she,’” a second staffer says. “But then [he’ll say], ‘It’s all good, I support it. It’s awesome, live your best life.’ … He toes the line of seeing who will join in and laugh with him, and then if nobody does, really skillfully backpedals.”

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The Umbrella Academy Showrunner Denied All Toxic Allegations

Aside from his alleged transphobic remarks, The Umbrella Academy showrunner Steve Blackman has been accused of toxic behavior on set. The report includes allegations from a dozen former writers and staffers from the Netflix show, most of whom asked to stay anonymous. However, Blackman denied all claims.

Blackman’s rep, as well as three other sources who worked closely with him, refused the allegations of his alleged toxic behavior. “Over six years and four seasons overseeing thousands of crew, actors, and writers, Steve Blackman led The Umbrella Academy to become a beloved series with devoted fans, enthralling stories, and a dedicated team making it all possible,” Blackman’s spokesperson said. “These allegations from a handful of disgruntled employees are completely false and outrageous, and in no way reflect the collaborative, respectful, and successful working environment Mr. Blackman has cultivated.”

Source: Rolling Stone

The Umbrella Academy

Release Date

February 15, 2019

Cast

Aidan Gallagher , elliot page , Tom Hooper , David Castaneda

Main Genre

Adventure

Seasons

4

Creator

Steve Blackman, Jeremy Slater