By Tom Porter
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In an essay on the Medium website titled Rose Colored Glasses, actor and cosplayer Chloe Dykstra described a harrowing campaign of abuse by an ex-boyfriend, who she did not name.
But with details in the essay pointing to her former boyfriend Chris Hardwick as the abuser, the host of AMC's Talking Dead issued a statement Friday denying the claims.
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Dykstra describes how the unnamed ex soon established a system of rules for her, restricting her social interaction and isolating her from family and friends. She also alleges that he frequently sexually assaulted her.
The stress of the relationship led her to frequently consider suicide and to develop anorexia, at one point dropping 15 pounds in one week.
After three years of emotional abuse, she told the ex she was ending the relationship, and he responded by pressuring companies into blacklisting her.
"He made calls to several companies I received regular work from to get me fired by threatening to never work with them. He succeeded. I was blacklisted," she wrote.
Why do people think it's Hardwick?
Several details in Dykstra's essay led readers to suggest Hardwick was the abusive ex. In the essay, Dykstra says the abusive ex was almost 20 years older than her: She is 29 and Hardwick is 46. During the course of the relationship, she says he went from being a "mildly successful podcaster" to "a powerhouse CEO of his own company," which recalls Hardwick's own career path. Finally, she writes that she ended the relationship when she was 25, four years ago. Dykstra and Hardick announced their split in 2014.
Who is Chris Hardwick?
In 2010 Hardwick started the Nerdist podcast, and built it into entertainment network Nerdist Industries. In 2012, the group was sold to Legendary Entertainment.
He recently parted ways with Legendary to launch the ID10T podcast. He is host of The Walking Dead aftershow Talking Dead, and also hosts and co-produces NBC primetime gameshow The Wall.
How did he respond to Dykstra's essay?
"I was heartbroken to read Chloe's post. Our three year relationship was not perfect - we were ultimately not a good match and argued - even shouted at each other - but I loved her, and did my best to uplift and support her as a partner and companion in any way and at no time did I sexually assault her," Hardwick said in a statement.
"When we were living together, I found out that Chloe cheated on me, and I ended the relationship. For several week after we broke up, she asked me to get back together with me and even told me she wanted to have kids with me, 'build a life' with me and told me that I was 'the one,' but I did not want to be with someone who was unfaithful.
"I'm devastated to read that she is now accusing me of conduct that did not occur. I was blindsided by her post and always wanted the best for her. As a husband, a son, and future father, I do not condone any kind of mistreatment of women."
The couple had announced their split in 2014, in similar Twitter posts.
What next?
Legendary in a statement after Dykstra's essay was posted said it had scrubbed reference to Hardwick as founder of the Nerdist podcast from its website, according to Hollywood Reporter.
"Chris Hardwick had no operational involvement with Nerdist for the two years preceding the expiration of his contract in December 2017. He no longer has any affiliation with Legendary Digital Networks," the company said. "The company has removed all reference to Mr. Hardwick even as the original Founder of Nerdist pending further investigation."
Dykstra also moved to defend the company in a tweet Friday: "Before I take my break, I do want to address something re: the company he founded. As I understand it, the person has not been associated with that company for several years, and I hope that they will not suffer as a result of my essay. Be kind to them, they are good people."
Hardwick is now married to model Lydia Hearst.
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