Who Is Eddie Berganza? DC Comics Editor Suspended Over Sexual Harassment Allegations
Following a BuzzFeed report Friday, accounting multiple allegations of sexual harassment by female staff members, DC Comics group editor Eddie Berganza was suspended from his post Saturday.
“DC Entertainment has immediately suspended Mr. Berganza and has removed him from performing his duties as Group Editor at DC Comics,” read the statement issued by DC Comics. “There will be a prompt and yet careful review into next steps as it relates to the allegations against him, and the concerns our talent, employees and fans have shared. DC continues to be extremely committed to creating a safe and secure working environment for our employees and everyone involved in the creation of our comic books.”
According to Upclosed, Berganza was nominated for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Editor in 1998, 1999, and 2000 for his outstanding contribution in the DC universe. He has been involved in developing several top DC comics such as “Supergirl,” “Titans” and “Wednesday Comics.”
He has also edited numerous comics such as “Blackest Night” and the maxi-series “Brightest Day” with Rex Ogle and Adam Schlagman.
DC Comics editor-in-chief Bob Harras made him the executive editor of DC Comics on Dec. 1, 2010. However, by April 10, 2012, Berganza was demoted to group editor of DC Comics following an alleged "series of indiscretions."
On April 20, 2016, a DC Comics employee accused Berganza of multiple incidents of sexual harassment. According to Bleeding Cool, he was also reportedly banned from attending comic conventions for DC.
DC Comics president Diane Nelson issued the following statement when the allegations first surfaced in 2016: "DC Entertainment strives to foster a culture of inclusion, fairness and respect. While we cannot comment on specific personnel matters, DC takes allegations of discrimination and harassment very seriously, promptly investigates reports of misconduct and disciplines those who violate our standards and policies.”
“As part of our ongoing effort to provide an equitable working environment, we are reviewing our policies, expanding employee training on the topic and working with internal and external resources to ensure that these policies and procedures are respected and reinforced across the company,” Nelson added.
It was only after Berganza had successfully completed a number of training programs mandated by Warner Bros. that he was later given the "Superman" titles back and allowed to attend conventions again.
However, while allegations against Berganza were swept under the rug earlier, DC Comics was required to take stronger steps this time around as three women —Joan Hilty, Liz Gehrlein Marsham and a third who has remained anonymous — shared their experiences of being sexually assaulted by Berganza at different points in the past, Buzzfeed reported.
Berganza allegedly had grabbed Hilty – who was a DC employee at the time – at a staff gathering in the 2000s in an attempt to make her kiss him. In a different staff party in 2006, Berganza had reportedly stuck his tongue inside Marsham’s mouth — another former DC staff member — and also tried to grope her. He had also tried to make out with the anonymous woman, who did not work for DC Comics.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.