Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan pulls out of major Comic Con event – after shamed actor John Barrowman joins line-up
Doctor Who star Karen Gillan has pulled out of Wales Comic Con just days after shamed actor John Barrowman was announced in the line-up.
The Dancing on Ice judge, 54, was revealed to be attending the major event on August 10 and insiders claim it was this which caused Karen to cancel.
John apologised in May after it was revealed he would expose himself on the set of the Sci-Fi hit, which led to a video of the screen star being removed from an immersive Doctor Who theatre show.
Not this time: Doctor Who star Karen Gillan has pulled out of Wales Comic Con just days after shamed actor John Barrowman was announced in the line-up (pictured in 2020)
Karen, 33, recorded a video message for disappointed fans, where she claimed a scheduling clash with the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy movie was the reason behind her withdrawal.
Despite saying she was ‘gutted’ to be missing the major fan event, sources close to the Scottish star told The Sun she was opposed to joining forces with John.
‘Karen has been vocal in speaking up against systemic sexual harassment in the workplace in the past,’ they said.
‘It continues to be an issue that she feels very strongly about. So the prospect of appearing alongside John publicly left her very conflicted.’
Regretful: John apologised in May after it was revealed he would repeatedly expose himself on the set of Doctor Who, which led to his removal from its theatre show this year (pictured in 2019)
The Amy Pond actress graced the small screen alongside Matt Smith between 2010 and 2013 but never worked alongside the actor behind Captain Jack Harkness.
The allegations came to light following a resurfaced video where fellow-shamed actor Noel Clarke, 45, who portrayed Mickey Smith in the BBC One cult drama, said John would expose himself ‘every five seconds’.
Clarke then joked with a live audience not to do this at their workplace or they might go to prison.
In an interview with Weekend magazine, Barrowman said his behaviour on set was to ‘defuse awkwardness’ whenever he was filming a sex scene in spin-off Torchwood.
He said: ‘As Captain Jack Harkness I was the star of Torchwood, so I felt it was down to me to lead the company and keep them entertained.
Pals: The Amy Pond actress graced the small screen alongside Matt Smith between 2010 and 2013 but never worked alongside the actor behind Captain Jack Harkness (pictured in 2010)
‘When I was doing a nude scene or a love scene it was clear in the script I’d be naked and everyone would have known about that at least 48 hours in advance.
‘So I’d be waiting in my trailer wearing just a robe with a sock over my ”parts”.
‘Then, if I were standing waiting to film a scene where I needed to be nude and someone came into view, I’d make a joke to put them and myself at ease.
‘My actions were simply designed to defuse any potential awkwardness among the cast and crew.’
Barrowman revealed he was called for a meeting with Doctor Who and Torchwood executive producer Julie Gardner who told him to reign in his behaviour.
The actor added he can now see his behaviour was ‘juvenile’ and it would not be something he would do today.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Karen and John for comment.
Matured: The actor added he can now see his behaviour was ‘juvenile’ and it would not be something he would do today (pictured in 2020)
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