Fuller House Creator Was Fired for Allegedly Creating Toxic Workplace

Why was Jeff Franklin, the creator of Full House and the Netflix reboot Fuller House, fired from his position as showrunner on the Netflix series at the end of 2018? According to a new testimony from a Warner Bros. executive, it was because he created a toxic, misogynist work environment, which included him allegedly making demeaning, sexually charged remarks about female employees and complaining about having to hire female directors—as well as nonwhite directors. He also purportedly said he wished he could “make all the women on my staff get hysterectomies,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Franklins dismissal was first reported on in February 2018, when it was attributed more vaguely to alleged inappropriate behavior and sexually charged comments.

These more detailed allegations, per THR, came out during Warner Bros. investigation into complaints against Franklin made in 2017. The studio interviewed eight Fuller House employees, who relayed these claims. Current showrunner Bryan Behar, who took over after Franklin was fired, was also interviewed over the course of the investigation.

In April, Franklin filed a lawsuit against Behar, claiming the new showrunner pushed him out after seizing on the growing #MeToo movement, conspiring to use it to get Franklin kicked off the show. The suit, THR said, also noted that Franklin had signed a three-year deal with Warner Bros. in 2015. In 2017, when the deal was to be renegotiated, Franklin claimed Behar went to the media to spread negative stories about the Full House creator. (Behar denied the claims.) The #MeToo movement became widespread in Hollywood in October of 2017. The alleged story about Franklin was never published, but Franklins studio deal nevertheless was not extended.

Warner Bros. VP of labor Silisha Platon, who led the investigation into Franklin, has now submitted a sworn declaration in Los Angeles Superior Court in support of Behar. Platon claims that the first investigation into Franklins alleged toxic behavior happened in 2016, before the wider Hollywood misconduct reckoning kicked off. The investigation was reportedly sparked by complaints about Franklins on-set behavior and his remarks about pregnancy-related time-off requests from employees, THR noted.

Platons latest investigation into Franklin began in November 2017, after a complaint by a female writer. The interviews with eight Fuller House employees revealed, among other things, that Franklin had bragged about having orgies and invited the writers to his mansion, where he had his assistant request, multiple times, that they all bring bikinis. He allegedly complained about having to include a diverse slate of directors, and described female directors as “all the same.” He was also quoted as allegedly saying: “She is probably going to be pregnant next season. I wish I could make all the women on my staff get hysterectomies,” per THR. In addition, he allegedly made a derogatory remark about an underage girl connected to the show, saying: “Shes one nose job away from a good fuck.”

Franklin has not yet released a statement about Platons declaration. When he was initially fired from Fuller House in 2018, he released a statement on Instagram, writing: “Im heartbroken to be leaving Fuller House. Creating and running Full House and Fuller House has been the greatest joy. I wish the cast, my second family for over 30 years, continued success. Im so proud of all we accomplished together, and beyond grateful to our loyal fans. Adios Tanneritos!”

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