Chris Hardwick Cleared to Return to Work at AMC
Carissa Pavlica
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Just days after the conclusion of San Diego Comic-Con, where Yvette Nicole Brown moderated panels in Chris Hardwick's absence, AMC has announced they've cleared him to return to work.
On June 14, Hardwick's ex-girlfriend, Chloe Dykstra, posted an online essay alleging sexual assault and emotional abuse by Hardwick during their time together.
As a result, Hardwick immediately lost his position and affiliations at AMC and elsewhere while AMC began a comprehensive investigation into the allegations although he was not named in Dykstra's post.
Hardwick has adamantly denied all allegations, although he agreed that his relationship with Dykstra "was not perfect."
He also released some intimate text messages and emails he had exchanged with Dykstra in an attempt to give some perspective from his side of the relationship.
Related: Yvette Nicole Brown Replaces Chris Hardwick at Comic-Con Panel: Get All the Details!
In the meantime, in the event he was not cleared for a return to AMC, Brown was offered the opportunity to take over The Talking Dead, The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead after show at AMC.
With Fear the Walking Dead returning on August 12, Hardwick will not be at the helm, but Brown will be a guest on the show.
Brown will be hosting a Walking Dead Season 9 pre-show on August 5 for AMC ahead of the Fear the Walking Dead premiere.
"Following a comprehensive assessment by AMC, working with Ivy Kagan Bierman of the firm Loeb & Loeb, who has considerable experience in this area, Chris Hardwick will return to AMC as the host of Talking Dead and Talking With Chris Hardwick," a AMC said in a statement.
"We take these matters very seriously and given the information available to us after a very careful review, including interviews with numerous individuals, we believe returning Chris to work is the appropriate step."
Related: AMC Pulls Chris Hardwick Talk Show Following Sexual Assault Allegations
Earlier today, we also discovered that James Franco will continue on with HBO's The Deuce despite allegations made against him after the Golden Globes earlier this year.
HBO President Casey Bloyes said after an internal investigation they felt comfortable enough to move forward with the project with Franco attached.
How do you feel about this news?
Will any of this stop you from watching Hardwick on the Talking Dead?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Talking Dead with Chris Hardwick returns Sunday, August 12 right after the premiere of Fear the Walking Dead on AMC.
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.
