Doctor Who Star Addresses Lack Of Support From Cast & Crew Amid Misconduct Allegation: “99% Of The Things That Were Said About Me Were Bullsh*t”
In an interview with WalesOnline, John Barrowman discussed the fallout from the allegations, stating he felt ostracized by the Doctor Who community and the entertainment industry at large. The actor insisted that his actions—while inappropriate—were intended as pranks, not malicious or predatory behavior. Here’s what he had to say:
I’m disgusted at the way my Doctor Who and Torchwood family turned their backs on me – 99% of the things that were said about me were bullsh*t and I’m under the impression that the person who started it all, the journalists who ran with it and the online judge and jury who think they can say what they like, seem to have a privilege to ruin someone’s life and career.
No-one was offended, no-one was upset. It was created by ‘a source.’ It was crap. I ended up being good clickbait and it has lasted for three years. It’s been devastating – to the point I was blackballed. I can’t get into a room for an audition or a meeting anymore.
That’s why I’ve decided to talk about it and lay it bare on stage because it’s quite disgusting how people have treated me. I have always been up front and honest and talked about everything and for people to take that and manipulate it is disgusting. Only the truth comes out of my mouth.
If I was naked on set it’s because it was written into a script and if I was wiggling it or being stupid it was to make myself feel comfortable because I’m standing there stark b** naked. And to be blunt, when I did that stuff, everyone came down from the office to watch it because they knew John Barrowman was naked on set.
I wouldn’t do it now. I’d never do it now. It’s a different time. We’d now have coordinators to make everyone feel comfortable, including myself. I’d think about things more now. Sometimes rather than going back to my trailer I decided I’d stay naked on set so we could get the scene done quicker.
What John Barrowman’s Career Fallout After Doctor Who Means
It’s Accountability In The Entertainment Industry
Barrowman’s comments contribute to the ongoing discussions about workplace conduct in the entertainment industry. While he apologized for his behavior in 2008, the actor now seems to refer to the allegations as baseless “crap,” claiming his actions didn’t cause offense at the time and were considered inappropriate pranks. Nonetheless, anonymous witnesses on set did describe feeling uncomfortable and by 2021, the BBC cut ties with Barrowman, which began a cascade of canceled events and performances that he insists continues to this day.
The situation is a broader reckoning in the entertainment world about accountability for sexual behavior on set, with other controversies, such as allegations against Doctor Who actor Noel Clarke, prompting scrutiny of workplace culture on the BBC series during the mid-2000s. In the wake of #MeToo, intimacy coordinators have become a growing trend in the film and TV industry. While some recent productions, such as Sean Baker’s Anora, have chosen to forgo coordinators, directors like Halina Reijn (Badygirl, Bodies Bodies Bodies) have strongly endorsed their inclusion as a way to prevent discomfort and foster mutual respect among cast and crew.
Our Take On John Barrowman’s Revelations
Intimacy Coordinators Can Change The Industry For The Better
Barrowman’s candid interview sheds light on the complexities of addressing past behavior in an era of heightened scrutiny. While his portrayal of Captain Jack brought queer representation and charisma to Doctor Who, the star now serves as a cautionary tale for how filmmakers, actors, and other production staff should conduct themselves. If there’s one thing I can agree with him on, it’s the importance of intimacy coordinators who can ensure any sort of nudity or sexual behavior on set is left within the bounds of professionalism and care.
