'Fake BLM supporter' calling Candice Patton 'gorilla' in old tweet slammed for endorsing Vanessa Morgan's tweet
A Twitter war erupted after 'Riverdale' star Vanessa Morgan opened up about the racial inequality in Hollywood. Morgan, who plays Toni Topaz on the show, tweeted that she was "tired of how black people are portrayed in media, tired of us being portrayed as thugs, dangerous or angry scary people. Tired of us also being used as sidekick non dimensional characters to our white leads. Or only used in the ads for diversity but not actually in the show.”
Later, she wrote in a response to a fan, "Too bad I’m the only black series regular but also paid the least. Girl I could go on for days.” This was an obvious reference to her show, 'Riverdale'. In another tweet, she tweeted that her role had nothing to do with her castmates, requested fans to not target them.
Fans stood with her in solidarity and extended their support. One Twitter user responded to Vanessa and said they were with her on this. Others turned on the user and dug up an old tweet where they had called Candice Patton a "gorilla". After this, fans were livid and didn't hold back from ripping apart the user, who allegedly has written defamatory tweets against Patton, before. "Since you blocked comments on Tweet about supporting BLM but still hating Candice Patton let's take a trip down memory lane when you called a black woman a gorilla. Your RACIST & fake pretending to support BLM," a fan tweeted.
Another requested Morgan to 'block' the user as well, "Vanessa, the person above is a known racist, who tweeted images calling Candice a gorilla. She has been harassing Candice, and Iris West fans for years. Feel free to block her, she is terrible in every way."
There were several others, who came out in support of Patton. "Imagine claiming to support the Black community while tearing down a Black woman who has done nothing but support other Black women, bring awareness to racism, open doors for other Black superhero’s and made history by changing her character’s race in comics. Stan Candice Patton," the fan wrote.
Meanwhile, the user, who had written the gorilla tweet years ago, tried defending herself, saying, "Supporting The Black Community doesn't mean I have to love Candice Patton. I will never love and support her. She is a bad person full of hate and negativity and I will never forget all the bad things she did since 2017. I hope it's clear for everyone." This caused further anger and unrest, as fans said that Patton had been through a lot of bullying during her time on The CW show, 'The Flash'.
A fan responded to the troll saying, "Shut up cracker. What the hell is wrong with some of you people? @candicepatton is a bad person because she speaks up against the unfair and often racist treatment she receives on and off set from her castmembers, network and fans of The Flash. You don't suport BLM."
Other fans recalled the bullying Patton had faced, over the years, some even alleging that her own castmate Danielle Panabaker, who plays Caitlin Snow on the show, was responsible for it. "Danielle Panabaker let her fans do that, and she’s also promo’d snowbarry to them (snowbarry was founded out of racism and created to attack iris)," wrote a fan.
Meanwhile, others hope that Patton comes out and tells her own story of racism that she has endured too during her six years of playing Iris West in 'The Flash'. Some cheered saying, "Expose it sister! We've got your back!"
"Candice patton has had to endure racism, harassment, and d**th threats for YEARS. i don’t wanna hear a single defence for any of her coworkers she calls out for being involved or not doint shit about it," a fan tweeted. Some other fans just requested people to leave her alone too. "Y'all leave Candice alone she's got enough trauma to deal with right now," said a fan
Meanwhile, Patton has been sharing messages on racism and the Black Lives Matter movement on her Instagram stories in the wake of the George Floyd protests.