Hartley Sawyer has been cut from the CW show ‘The Flash’ over racist and misogynistic tweets. Photo:
Racist tweets that have followed Hartley Sawyer like tin cans tied to a dog’s tail have finally caught up with him.
The actor, best known for his role in the daytime soap “The Young and the Restless” has been fired from his latest job as a character in the Warner Bros. television show, “The Flash.”
The 35-year-old actor joined the series as Ralph Dibny in 2017 But Warner Bros. Television moved quickly to ax him after racist and misogynistic tweets were unearthed.
“Hartley Sawyer will not be returning for season seven of ‘The Flash,'” Warner Bros. Television, The CW, Berlanti Productions and executive producer Eric Wallace said in a joint statement.
“In regards to Mr. Sawyer’s posts on social media, we do not tolerate derogatory remarks that target any race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation.
“Such remarks are antithetical to our values and polices, which strive and evolve to promote a safe, inclusive and productive environment for our workforce.”
Tweets from Sawyer’s account from 2009 to 2014 surfaced – which has now been deleted – included:
• “The only thing stopping me from doing mildly racist tweets is the knowledge that Al Sharpton would never stop complaining about me.”
• “Date rape myself so I don’t have to masturbate.”
• “If I had a wife I would beat the hell out of her tonight lol.”
• “Out at dinner and just exposed myself as a racist, AGAIN.”
• “just kidding I don’t care and f*gs are fine but sports often make me snore.”
Hartley apologized for the tweets via his Instagram account.
“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 wrote.
“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.”
Meanwhile, ‘The Flash’ showrunner Wallace took to Twitter to share that Sawyer’s tweets “broke my heart and made me mad as hell”.
“They’re indicative of the larger problem in our country. Because, at our 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.”
Wallace said he is committed to including more minority writers, directors, actors and producers of all genders for the show.
“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.”
Sawyer is known for his roles as Kyle Abbott on the CBS Daytime soap opera “The Young and the Restless” and as Ralph Dibny/Elongated Man on The CW series “The Flash.”
His role on the soap lasted less than a year.
In July 2017, Sawyer was cast in “The Flash. His character first appears in the fourth episode of the fourth season, titled “Elongated Journey Into Night”, which first aired that October.
In June of the following year, he was promoted to series regular until his firing for the racists tweets yesterday (June 8).
Check out the video below to see Sawyer in the role.