Should 'The Flash' makers rehire Hartley Sawyer? Fans say no while others say he deserves a second chance
News of Hartley Sawyer's firing from 'The Flash' following the resurfacing of his racist, homophobic and misogynistic tweets is still doing the rounds on social media. A campaign titled #RehireHartleySawyer has been trending for some time now and fans seem to be divided whether to have the actor back on the show reprising his role as Ralph Dibny/The Elongated Man.
"Actions have consequences. Doesn’t matter how long. Good deeds don’t outweigh bad ones," a fan tweeted. The handle and the profile that reads @RehireHartleySawyer posted images of the actor's Instagram and Twitter profiles where he actively voiced out his support for the Black Lives Matter campaign. However, that didn't seem to faze fans as some of them hoped The CW would not bring him back. "Homeboy has been a goodie two shoes for how long and now all that goes out the window bc old tweets," a fan wrote.
"Fucc Hartley," a fan wrote. "He seems like he's trying to be an Anthony jeselnick type," another fan opined. "Nah but you see, he hurt someone's FEELINGS, and clearly that outweighs any and all good work he has done, automatically. Every off-color joke is a stone, and all of the other stuff is a feather to Cancel Culture," a fan wrote. At the other end, a few thought he played the character well and maybe he actually did deserve a chance after all.
"Even though he f**ked up, I still think he deserves a second chance, he's a good dude, and he can make up for his mistakes," a fan tweeted. "I've seen this petition, and I'm so glad that it has the support it does. Unfortunately, it doesn't go into much detail and the press that it's gotten has mocked it. I want to work with all petition-owners to help clearly define what we're really here for," another wrote.
"#RehireHartleySawyer he doesn’t deserve to be fired at all the show won’t be the same without him he needs to be rehired because he made the show funny and I’m highly disappointed in his cast members of the damn show for agreeing he should be fired and unfollowing him," a tweet read. Soon after the tweets emerged shocking the superhero community, Grant Gustin, the main protagonist of the hit Arrowverse show, wrote on his Instagram in response to a statement from Eric Wallace, the showrunner, "I don’t have much to add because Eric’s thoughts are stated so eloquently and powerfully. I will say I was shocked, saddened, and angry when I saw the tweets. Words matter."
What are your thoughts on the #RehireHartleySawyer campaign?