“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” writer and producer Dan Graziano, who overseas the long-time popular hit series, is facing allegations of misogyny and perpetuating a toxic workplace environment, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Per the report, more than a dozen people have accused Graziano of mistreating colleagues, making inappropriate comments towards women and people of color, and having a bad temper, citing events that have spanned over a decade.
The expose landed on the same day as “SVU” star Kelli Giddish’s final episode aired, who is departing the series after reportedly having salary disputes with the show’s creator, Dick Wolf.
Graziano joined “SVU” as a writer, executive producer, and showrunner in June 2022.
Graziano issued the following statement:
“Though it would be easy and convenient, I refuse to blame some past behavior on the abuse I suffered and learned as a child at the hands of a Catholic priest as well as my own mother. For anyone who has worked as a showrunner or in a writers’ room, you must draw on and use your own experience,” Graziano said. “Particularly for a show like ‘Law & Order: SUV,’ I regrettably have a lot to draw from and with it brings a great deal of emotion. All any of us can do is evolve and grow. Real change is hard, and I continue to work on myself.”
