LOS ANGELES — Former employees have accused "The Umbrella Academy" showrunner Steve Blackman of fostering a toxic work environment, exacting retaliation, taking credit for other people's work and making offensive remarks, including a comment about Elliot Page, according to an investigation by Rolling Stone.

Blackman has denied the accusations.

"These allegations from a handful of disgruntled employees are completely false and outrageous, and in no way reflect the collaborative, respectful, and successful working environment Mr. Blackman has cultivated," a spokesperson for Blackman said in a statement Monday to The Times.

Rolling Stone interviewed 12 writers and support staffers — most of whom were given anonymity because they feared "professional retaliation" — and reviewed a January 2023 human resources complaint against Blackman. The article did not specify who filed the complaint.

An investigation into the complaint, which was filed to Universal Content Productions, wrapped up in May 2023 and cleared Blackman of most allegations, including that he had a "long history of toxic, bullying, manipulative, and retaliatory behavior," according to Rolling Stone.

However, the investigation did find that Blackman had sent inappropriate texts.

"The lone substantiated allegation consisted of inappropriate texts between Mr. Blackman and a senior colleague he considered a close friend for years," the showrunner's spokesperson said. "The colleague, Jesse McKeown, responded in kind. Following the conclusion of the investigation into the lone complaint against Mr. Blackman that merely substantiated inappropriate texts with a colleague he considered a friend, he was reminded not to treat staffers as friends given his position as showrunner."

McKeown's representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

In one of the texts submitted in the HR complaint Blackman wrote about Page's transition and how it would be handled onscreen, Rolling Stone reported.

"Elliot wants to come out as trans on the show," the text allegedly said. "As Ivan. Oh my f— God. Kill me now."

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