‘The Wonder Years’ Director Fred Savage Was “Manipulative and Erratic,” According to Accusers

New details regarding child star Fred Savage’s firing from his executive producing and directing role on the ABC reboot of The Wonder Years are coming to light. Several women crewmembers, who made their initial report to Disney HR in February, claim he was “manipulative and erratic.”

While Disney simply cited “inappropriate conduct” as the reasoning for Savage’s firing, the women, who opted to remain anonymous, detailed events ranging from verbal harassment to sexual assault in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. They claim that actors and executives would “see [Savage’s] best face” but when it came to “below-the-line employees who don’t have power,” he would flip a switch.

One of the women, who said she initially found Savage to be “very charming,” said she began to feel odd about the “strangeness” of the 46-year-old’s relationship with a younger woman on set. Despite being married with three children, sources told THR that the woman moved into his house near the filming location for The Wonder Years, claiming he was “extremely controlling of her daily behaviors.” When one of the women tried to protect the young woman, he allegedly pulled her aside and verbally harassed her.

She said when this happened, “his eyes would go dead,” but then “he flips a switch and he’s Fred Savage.”

Another woman, who Savage befriended while she worked on the show, says he made strides to help her with her career, bought her dinner, and offered expensive gifts (which she declined). Although, things allegedly turned south, leaving the woman “scared of him for the first time.”

According to her, while the two were out with a group in December 2021, Savage followed her to the bathroom and pushed her against a wall.

“I said, ‘Please, don’t do this,'” she said. “I meant ruining the friendship. I was pleading, not from fear so much, but this was no going back.”

She continued, “He put his mouth on mine very forcefully. He went for the top of my pants. I brushed him away. Then he put his mouth on mine again, grabbed my hand and pulled it on his groin area. I was pulling back. He stopped very angrily. I shoulder checked him so I could get out.”

The woman says he attempted to text her several times asking to meet, and after a few weeks of silence, Savage left a voicemail apologizing for being a “huge asshole.”

In a statement to THR, the actor said, “Since I was 6 years old, I have worked on hundreds of sets with thousands of people, and have always strived to contribute to an inclusive, safe, and supportive work environment. It is devastating to learn that there are co-workers who feel I have fallen short of these goals.”

He continued, “While there are some incidents being reported that absolutely did not and could not have happened, any one person who feels hurt or offended by my actions is one person too many. I will work to address and change any behavior that has negatively affected anyone, as nothing in this world is more important to me than being a supportive co-worker, friend, husband, father, and person.”

Savage was sued for sexual harassment at 16 years old by a costume designer on the original run of The Wonder Years and had a complaint filed against him in the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2018 by a costume designer on Fox’s The Grinder for alleged physical and verbal harassment. Though both lawsuits were settled, the company’s investigation cleared him of the latter.

If you or someone you know needs to reach out about sexual abuse or assault, RAINN is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or online at RAINN.org.