Hartley Sawyer Fired from 'The Flash' Over Resurfaced Offensive Tweets

Actor Hartley Sawyer was dismissed from his role as Ralph Dibny, also known as the Elongated Man, on The CW's "The Flash" after a collection of his past social media posts, containing racist, misogynistic, and homophobic remarks, resurfaced. The decision, announced by The CW, Warner Bros. Television, and Berlanti Productions, underscored a firm stance against derogatory comments targeting any race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation. These remarks were deemed antithetical to the companies' values and policies.

The controversial tweets, which were posted prior to Sawyer joining the superhero series in 2017, gained widespread attention in early June 2020. Among the resurfaced content were comments referencing sexual assault, racist sentiments, and homophobic language, prompting significant public backlash. Sawyer's Twitter account has since been deleted, but screenshots of the posts circulated widely across social media platforms.

In response to his termination, Sawyer issued an apology via Instagram, stating, "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." He acknowledged that his past behavior was unacceptable and that he had failed to recognize the harm his words could inflict.

Executive producer Eric Wallace also released a statement, expressing his deep disappointment. "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," Wallace wrote, emphasizing the show's commitment to promoting a safe and inclusive environment. Lead actor Grant Gustin echoed these sentiments, reposting Wallace's statement and adding, "Words matter."

Sawyer had been a recurring character on "The Flash" since 2017 and was promoted to a series regular in 2018, becoming a fan favorite. His dismissal highlights a growing trend in the entertainment industry where past online conduct can lead to significant professional consequences, particularly as public scrutiny of social media history intensifies.