Remember When Grant Gustin Was Accused of Racism for Failing to Defend His ‘The Flash’ Co-Star from Bigotry?

The Flash, which ran for 9 seasons, was one of the most successful shows in the Arrowverse and had a cast that many fans found very charming. Grant Gustin remains a popular choice as the Scarlet Speedster, and Candice Patton’s portrayal of Iris West is still praised by fans.

However, despite the strong cast, the show faced some controversies. For fans familiar with the comics, it’s known that Iris West is originally portrayed as white, but this was changed for the show, leading to backlash from some viewers.

Raceswapping has become more common in recent years as studios try to include more diversity in their casts, and it’s not just in superhero media. Some changes, like Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, were mostly accepted, while others, like Candice Patton’s Iris West, faced strong backlash.

Patton openly talked about the abuse she received. She shared that during the second season, the racism she faced made her consider quitting the show. Thankfully, she didn’t leave, and the abuse lessened (or at least she didn’t speak about it as much). However, the issue didn’t end there, as Grant Gustin got involved when he supported LGBT rights.

In 2019, Gustin posted on Instagram supporting the LGBTQ+ community and encouraging donations to Tie the Knot and the ACLU. But many fans were upset that while he supported one cause, he didn’t speak out about the racism Patton’s character faced.

He was publicly accused of being racist on his social media, much like Tom Holland recently was when he didn’t defend his Romeo & Juliet co-star Francesca Amewudah-Rivers from online attacks.

The accusations bothered Gustin so much that he felt the need to address them directly:

As far as defending any of my costars, I absolutely will when I see it on my page. I don’t go looking for trolls or hate about me or any of my friends or coworkers. When I see someone say something racially insensitive, straight-up racist, just trolling or being a bully, I block them without hesitation. That’s the most amount of energy I’m willing to waste on an internet troll.

Source

You could argue that Gustin is right in how he handles online bullies and trolls. These types of fans thrive on getting a reaction, as it shows their tactics are working. Ignoring them might be the best choice, but sometimes staying silent can cause its own issues, as inaction can be seen as worse than reacting the wrong way.

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!