Mark Schwahn Sexual Harassment Allegations Lead To ‘The Royals’ Creator’s Suspension

“The Royals” creator Mark Schwahn has been suspended from the show in the wake of multiple sexual harassment allegations aired out against him. The studios behind the series announced the American screenwriter’s suspension on Wednesday.

In a statement issued to Us Weekly, E!, Universal Cable Productions and Lionsgate Television said that they have decided to suspend Schwahn from “The Royals” in the middle of their independent investigation on the sexual harassment claims. They also maintained that they are willing to impose appropriate action once the investigation is over.

“E!, Universal Cable Productions and Lionsgate Television take sexual harassment allegations very seriously, investigate them thoroughly and independently, and take appropriate action. Lionsgate has suspended Mark Schwahn from ‘The Royals’ as we continue our investigation,” the statement reads.

The suspension comes at a time when production for the fourth season of the drama series has been concluded. E! has yet to announce a premiere date for the new installment however. For now, the studios are keeping track of the developments of the harassment claims against the showrunner.

In a statement to Deadline, the three studios said that they are “monitoring the information carefully” and they are “committed to providing a safe working environment in which everyone is treated respectfully and professionally.”

The sexual harassment allegations surfaced over the weekend after TV writer Audrey Wauchope accused the “One Tree Hill” showrunner of inappropriate behavior during her first writing job. Wauchope did not identify Schwahn at first, but she relayed the regrettable experience she and her writer partner, Rachel Specter, went through at the time.

Many cast and crew have since backed Wauchope’s accusations. Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz and 15 other female cast and crew members recently penned a letter detailing what they experienced at the hands of Schwahn. The letter was published by Variety on Monday.

”... Mark Schwahn’s behavior over the duration of the filming of One Tree Hill was something of an ‘open secret.’ Many of us were, to varying degrees, manipulated psychologically and emotionally. More than one of us is still in treatment for post-traumatic stress,” a portion of the letter reads.

“Many of us were put in uncomfortable positions and had to swiftly learn to fight back, sometimes physically, because it was made clear to us that the supervisors in the room were not the protectors they were supposed to be.”