Friday, October 20, 2017

Nickelodeon Fires 'The Loud House’ Creator Chris Savino Following Sexual Harassment Allegations

The Loud House showrunner Chris Savino has been fired from Nickelodeon, amidst allegations of sexual harassment, Variety and Deadline are reporting.


Here is the statement from a Nickelodeon spokesperson:

"Chris Savino is no longer working with Nickelodeon. We take allegations of misconduct very seriously, and we are committed to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment that is free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct."

"The Loud House, which is currently in its second season, will continue to air on Nickelodeon and be in production. Season three is scheduled to premiere in early 2018."

Savino had first been suspended by the network when allegations first surfaced. A dozen women have accused Savino of inappropriate behavior, in a story first reported by the website Cartoon Brew. Their accusations — which date back at least a decade — include unwanted sexual advances as well as threats of blacklisting after the end of consensual relationships.

The Loud House, which is currently in its second season, will continue to air on Nickelodeon and be in production. Season three is scheduled to premiere in early 2018, and a theatrical movie is in the pipeline

In an internal memo, Cyma Zarghami, president of Viacom’s Nickelodeon group, promised employees they would be safe if they spoke up. “In the current climate, it feels necessary to say that if you should encounter an uncomfortable situation at work, or witness one, you are safe to speak up,” she wrote. “If you hear something, and are unsure of what to do, you are safe to tell your supervisor or Human Resources. If you need help, in any way, you are safe to ask for it.”

Read Zarghami's full memo below:

“Nickelodeon is incredibly successful at the moment and continues to thrive because of the people who work here. You put your heart and soul into what you do. And we are committed to giving you the tools and resources you need to succeed and thrive here.

“Something we have long provided, as has the whole of Viacom, is a commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment. It is one of our foundational principles, and it is non-negotiable.

“This principle is not an idea that can be pushed solely from the top down. It is everyone’s responsibility to contribute to our culture, to value one another, and to promote inclusivity and respect on all levels.

“I have been at the company for more than 30 years, and since the beginning of my time here, I have come into the office, and left it every day, feeling that we are doing good work, that we are good people, and that it is a privilege and responsibility to create great characters and stories for kids.

“In the current climate, it feels necessary to say that if you should encounter an uncomfortable situation at work, or witness one, you are safe to speak up. If you hear something, and are unsure of what to do, you are safe to tell your supervisor or Human Resources. If you need help, in any way, you are safe to ask for it.

“We value each and every one of you just as much as we collectively value our audience, and I am proud of the incredible brand and business we have built.”

Earlier today, more than 200 women and non-gender conforming people working within the animation industry issued an open letter to studios demanding an end to sexism and sexual harassment in the animation industry following the recent downfalls of Harvey Weinstein and Roy Price who used their position as Hollywood executives to abuse women.

The Loud House premiered in May 2016 and has aired over 80 episodes to date. The series, which centers on the only son in a large family of eleven daughters. The series is based on an animated short of the same name from Nickelodeon’s annual Animated Shorts Program. It was the first series to be greenlit out of the networks global program designed to mine and cultivate a new generation of creative talent. Since launching, The Loud House has become a ratings powerhouse for Nickelodeon, often beating SpongeBob SquarePants to become the network’s highest rated series.

Savino been working at Nickelodeon 26 years ago. He worked as an animator on the network’s early hits The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rocko’s Modern Life, and Hey Arnold!, before heading to Cartoon Network to become a director on series like The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack, among others.

Additional source: ToonZone Forums /@D-nice is the man.

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