Hardwick shows pulled after sex assault claims
UPDATE:
AMC has decided to pull Talking with Chris Hardwick from its schedules after the presenter denied allegations that he sexually and emotionally abused his ex-girlfriend Chloe Dykstra during their relationship.
Hardwick has also decided not to moderate AMC and BBC America panels at Comic-Con International in San Diego in July.
"We have had a positive working relationship with Chris Hardwick for many years," said AMC in a statement.
"We take the troubling allegations that surfaced yesterday very seriously."
It continued: "While we assess the situation, Talking with Chris Hardwick will not air on AMC, and Chris has decided to step aside from moderating planned AMC and BBC America panels at Comic-Con International in San Diego next month."
Hardwick was due to host the BBC America Doctor Who panel next month, among others.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Chris Hardwick, the host of AMC's The Talking Dead and Nerdist co-founder, has denied sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend, 29-year-old actress Chloe Dykstra, when they were in a relationship.
On Friday (June 15), Hardwick's former girlfriend Dykstra posted an unlisted essay on Medium detailing allegations of facing years of emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of an unnamed boyfriend, whom she described as someone who went from a "podcaster to a powerhouse CEO of his own company".
In a statement released later on Friday, Hardwick said that he is "heartbroken" by Dykstra's post and strongly denies any allegations of sexual assault.
"These are very serious allegations and not to be taken lightly which is why I've taken the day to consider how to respond," said Hardwick in a statement (via Deadline).
"I was heartbroken to read Chloe's post. Our three year relationship was not perfect - we were ultimately not a good match and argued - 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."
In her Medium post, Dykstra alleged that she was barred from going out at night alone, having male friends, or speaking while out on dates with her boyfriend. The Heroes of Cosplay star also claimed that she was expected to submit to sex with him nightly, which she says she went along with "out of fear of losing him".
"I generally stopped speaking unless spoken to while with him, drifting through life like a ghost," she wrote of their relationship. "I would try to sleep in as late as possible so my days were shorter. I stopped listening to music entirely. I ceased to be. I was an ex-person."
When she finally left him after three years, Dykstra alleges that her boyfriend and a former female friend did everything possible to get her blacklisted from the entertainment industry as form of revenge.
Hardwick continued to challenge some of the claims made by Dykstra in her post in his statement, alleging that the relationship ended because Dykstra cheated on him.
[Chris Hardwick and Chloe Dykstra in 2014]
"When we were living together, I found out that Chloe had cheated on me, and I ended the relationship," Hardwick added.
"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."
In her post, Dykstra admitted that she kissed someone else while in the relationship but added that she "immediately told him about" it and that he "instantly forgave" her.
"[He] turned a total 180," she added. "He begged me not to leave him, even told me he was planning to propose; despite stating previously he had no intention to marry me."
[Chloe Dykstra in 2016]
In response to these allegations, Legendary Digital Networks - the corporate owners of Hardwick's Nerdist podcasting empire - said in a statement that Hardwick no longer has any control of the company.
A statement read: "Chris Hardwick had no operational involvement with Nerdist for the two years preceding the expiration of his contract in December 2017. 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."
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