Buffy' Alum Nicholas Brendon Took Swipe at Sarah Michelle Gellar Before Death

Brendon criticized his former co-star in an eerie video shared just days before his passing.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:56pm

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Nicholas Brendon, best known for playing Xander Harris on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' posted a video on Facebook on March 14 in which he criticized his former co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played the title character. Brendon, who died on March 17 at age 54, said Gellar 'sort of f--ked the show' by telling the cast and crew she was leaving too late in the series, which he felt was unfair. The video also showed Brendon coughing up smoke, with him joking that he sounded 'like Bane' from Batman.

Why it matters

Brendon's comments about Gellar and the end of 'Buffy' provide a rare behind-the-scenes look at the tensions and challenges the cast and crew faced as the popular show came to a close. His death just days after posting the video also adds an eerie, poignant element to the clip.

The details

In the 45-minute Facebook Live video, Brendon rocked back and forth in a chair while coughing aggressively, at one point saying 'F--k this f--king smoke. I sound like Bane.' He then criticized Gellar, saying 'she worked really hard but she sort of f--ked the show, in a way. She told everyone she was leaving way too late into the series, so [creator] Joss [Whedon] was not prepared for that. You have an arc every season... it wasn't fair to the crew, the cast or the show.'

  • Brendon posted the video on March 14, 2026.
  • Brendon died on March 17, 2026.

The players

Nicholas Brendon

An actor best known for playing Xander Harris on the TV series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.' He died on March 17, 2026 at the age of 54.

Sarah Michelle Gellar

The actress who played the title character of Buffy Summers on the TV series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.'

Joss Whedon

The creator of the TV series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.'

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What they’re saying

“She worked really hard but she sort of f--ked the show, in a way. She told everyone she was leaving way too late into the series, so [creator] Joss [Whedon] was not prepared for that. You have an arc every season... it wasn't fair to the crew, the cast or the show.”

— Nicholas Brendon, Actor

The takeaway

Brendon's candid comments about the behind-the-scenes challenges at the end of 'Buffy' provide a rare glimpse into the tensions and difficulties the cast and crew faced as the popular show came to a close. His death just days after posting the video also adds an eerie, poignant element to the clip.