Following Hartley Sawyer's firing, The Flash showrunner Eric Wallace shared a longer statement regarding the decision on social media. Series star Grant Gustin boosted Wallace's message in a post on his personal Instagram account, with a statement of support.
"This morning, many of you learned that Hartley Sawyer will not be returning for Season Seven of The Flash," Wallace wrote. "Concerning his social media tweets, they broke my heart and made me mad as hell. And they're indicative of the larger problem in our country. Because at present, our country still accepts and protects the continual harassment -- unconscious or otherwise -- terrorizing and brutalizing of Black and Brown people, which is far too often fatal. That's why our country is standing up once again and shouting, 'ENOUGH!' and taking to the streets to bring about active change."
"I, too, am committed to bringing permanent change to the work environment here on The Flash. Yes, this is a family show. But it's for all families. That includes Black and Brown ones," he continued. "In order to facilitate this, I will continue to find Black and Brown writers, directors, actors and producers of all genders to help tell Flash stories. Their stories are part of the American narrative, too, and must be heard. And the more you hear and see us, the more you will begin to recognize one simple fact: We're human beings too."
"To those who still aren't sure why so many Americans have taken to the streets to make theirs voices known, I ask you to consider this: Every time a Black or Brown life is harassed, harmed or murdered, as in the case of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and too many others, our entire country fractures and moves further and further away from any moral authority we often claim to have in the world. Murder is not democracy. Systemic and institutional white privilege is not equality. Suppressing the free press with violence is not liberty. The only way for you to be free is for all of us to be free," he concluded. He also added the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.
Gustin shared Wallace's message, as originally posted on Twitter, in full on his Instagram. "I don't have much to add because Eric's thoughts are stated so eloquently and powerfully," he added in the caption. "I will say I was shocked, saddened and angry when I saw the tweets. Words matter."
Earlier today, Sawyer was fired from his series regular role as Ralph Dibny, aka Elongated Man, following the discovery of misogynist and racist Tweets on his social media. He has since deleted his Twitter, which contained jokes involving sexual assault, racism and homophobia. The Tweets that led to his firing, which resurfaced online recently, were written largely between 2011 and 2014 and contain sensitive topics.
Returning to The CW for its seventh season, The Flash stars Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Carlos Valdes, Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanagh, Jesse L. Martin and Danielle Nicolet.