Hartley Sawyer Fired From The Flash for Racist, Misogynistic Tweets

Hartley Sawyer has been fired from The Flash after quite a lot of his outdated racist, misogynistic, and in any other case offensive tweets have resurfaced. The CW has introduced that the actor, who performed Ralph Dibny on the Arrowverse sequence, is not going to return for Season 7. 

Showrunner Eric Wallace addressed the firing in a statement on Twitter, writing that the tweets “broke my coronary heart and made me mad as hell.”

Sawyer’s firing comes within the midst of world protests in opposition to systemic racism and police brutality following the loss of life of George Floyd on Might 25 by the hands of the Minneapolis Police Division. Wallace wrote that the tweets are “indicative of the bigger downside in our nation. As a result of at current, our nation nonetheless accepts and protects the continuous harassment — unconscious or in any other case — terrorizing and brutalizing of Black and Brown folks, which is way too typically deadly. That is why our nation is standing up as soon as once more and shouting, ‘ENOUGH!’ and taking to the streets to result in energetic change.”

He additionally pledged to deliver “everlasting change to the work setting” on The Flash. “Sure, it is a household present. However it’s for all households. That features Black and Brown ones,” wrote Wallace. “So as to facilitate this, I’ll proceed to seek out Black and Brown writers, administrators, actors and producers of all genders to assist inform Flash tales.”

My assertion concerning Hartley Sawyer and THE FLASH. pic.twitter.com/hni0MxOWZU

— Eric Wallace (@ewrote) June 8, 2020

As well as, Wallace joined The CW and Berlanti Productions in releasing an announcement that reads, “Hartley Sawyer is not going to be returning for Season 7 of The Flash. With regard to Mr. Sawyer’s posts on social media, we don’t tolerate derogatory remarks that concentrate on any race, ethnicity, nationwide origin, gender, or sexual orientation.  Such remarks are antithetical to our values and polices, which attempt and evolve to advertise a secure, inclusive and productive setting for our workforce.”

Sawyer’s Twitter account has been deleted, however screenshots of the tweets — all despatched earlier than he joined The Flash – have been making the rounds on social media for the previous two weeks. One tweet, despatched in 2012, mentioned, “The one factor stopping me from doing mildly racist tweets is the data that Al Sharpton would by no means cease complaining about me.” One other, from 2014, mentioned, “Loved a secret boob viewing at an audition in the present day.” Lots of the tweets comprise references to abusing and assaulting girls and youngsters.

On Might 30, after the offensive tweets started circulating, Sawyer issued an apology on Instagram. It reads partly, “My phrases, irrelevant of being meant with an intent of humor, had been hurtful, and unacceptable. I’m ashamed I used to be able to these actually horrible makes an attempt to get consideration at the moment. I remorse them deeply. This was not acceptable habits. These had been phrases I threw out on the time with no thought or recognition of the hurt my phrases may do, and now have completed in the present day.”

He continued, “I’m extremely sorry, ashamed and dissatisfied in myself for my ignorance again then. I need to be very clear: this isn’t reflective of what I feel or who I’m now. Years in the past, due to buddies and experiences who helped me to open my eyes, I started my journey into turning into a extra accountable grownup — by way of what I say, what I do, and past. I’ve largely stored that journey non-public, and that is one other manner that I’ve let so many down. I nonetheless have extra work to do. However how I outline myself now doesn’t take away the impression of my phrases, or my duty for them. I’m very sorry.”

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My words, irrelevant of being meant with an intent of humor, were hurtful, and unacceptable. I am ashamed I was capable of these really horrible attempts to get attention at that time. I regret them deeply. This was not acceptable behavior. These were words I threw out at the time with no thought or recognition of the harm my words could do, and now have done today. I am incredibly sorry, ashamed and disappointed in myself for my ignorance back then. I want to be very clear: this is not reflective of what I think or who I am now. Years ago, thanks to friends and experiences who helped me to open my eyes, I began my journey into becoming a more responsible adult – in terms of what I say, what I do, and beyond. I’ve largely kept that journey private, and this is another way that I have let so many down. I still have more work to do. But how I define myself now does not take away the impact of my words, or my responsibility for them. I am very sorry.

A submit shared by Hartley Sawyer (@hartleysawyer) on Might 30, 2020 at 11:59am PDT

Sawyer joined The Flash in 2017 as Ralph Dibny, the Elongated Man. He grew to become a sequence common in 2018.

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