In 2020, rising young actor Hartley Sawyer was fired from The Flash. He had successfully portrayed the character of Ralph Dibny, aka the Elongated Man, for three seasons, but thanks to a series of tweets that resurfaced, he was removed from the show.
The tweets in question originated before Sawyer had joined the CW series, but due to their racist and homophobic nature, the series' showrunners decided Sawyer's time on the show had to come to an end.
Executive producer Eric Wallace tweeted:
This morning, many of you learned that Hartley Sawyer will not be returning for season seven of The Flash. 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.
Lead actor Grant Gustin also commented on the situation, and he said he was "shocked, saddened and angry" by the tweets.
Sawyer isn't the first actor to be accused of racism. Below Deck cast member Peter Hunziker is another TV personality who was fired from a popular television show for posting a racist meme on Instagram. And there are many other celebrities, including Teen Mom OG star, Taylor Selfridge, who have also come under fire for their racist tweets.
It is only right that those in the public eye are held accountable for what they post online, as prejudice of any kind should not be tolerated. However, for those who sincerely apologize for their actions, there is also an argument that they should be granted a second chance.
So, what about Hartley Sawyer? Will Hollywood ever forgive the actor, or has his acting career ended for good?
Hartley Sawyer Has Apologized For His Tweets
After his tweets resurfaced, Sawyer sent out an apology. He said:
Regardless of the intention, my words matter and they carry profound consequences. And mine can and have caused pain and embarrassment, along with feelings I can only imagine, to supporters and fans, my cast mates, the crew, my colleagues and friends. I owe them all an apology. And I owe each of you an apology. Thank you for holding me accountable.
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.
In his apology, he held himself accountable for his actions and didn't try to make excuses for his offensive comments. He also said in his defense: "I want to be very clear: this is not reflective of what I think or who I am now."
We all make mistakes, and as people, we all change, sometimes with regrets about the people we were in the past. In short, we grow up and become better than what we were before. Well, most of us do!
So, for Sawyer, who has yet to make a comeback after the tweets resurfaced, there is a case to suggest that he shouldn't be isolated from the entertainment industry for good. This is certainly the opinion of some of the actor's fans who are petitioning for him to be returned to the CW show. Connar Hays who began the petition said:
Like his character on The Flash, Hartley has grown and become a better person. If we are to have any hope for the world, we must allow people to grow the way he has, and not to punish them after the fact. No matter what we have done in the past, we all have the choice to become heroes. Hartley has proven this, and he deserves a second chance.
He makes a valid point, but will the people in power sit up and take notice?
Will Hartley Sawyer Be Given A Second Chance?
There are those who haven't been seen on screen in a while because of the controversies that have surrounded them. Roseanne Barr, for example, is seemingly now out of the Hollywood limelight due to the racist comments she posted on social media back in 2018. And many people have turned against Kevin Spacey, although it is the seriousness of the actor's offline behavior that has seemingly destroyed his acting career.
Recently, Armie Hammer found himself at the center of a social media controversy that detailed his alleged sexual fetishes. While he denies the claims made against him, he has now pulled out of JLo's new movie because of them. At this point, we don't yet know how his long-term career will be affected.
So, what about Hartley Sawyer?
Well, it might be that his career will continue after the controversy has settled down. After all, director James Gunn was given a second chance by Disney, despite being initially fired from Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 for offensive tweets that were made early on in his career. And he's not the only one to be granted redemption. Comedian-actor Kevin Hart continues to find work, despite being dropped as host of the 2019 Oscars after his homophobic tweets from several years earlier resurfaced. And such actors as Rob Lowe, Mel Gibson, and James Franco continue to work in Hollywood, despite scandals that once surrounded them.
So, what will become of Hartley Sawyer?
Will Hollywood give him a second chance, or is the actor's career now over? Only time will tell, but as he has tried to distance himself from the person he used to be, perhaps he will be given his shot at redemption.