DC FanDome 2020: 'The Flash' panel fails to mention Hartley Sawyer's Ralph Dibney, fans ask 'will he disappear'?
It came as a shock to fans when CW announced that Hartley Sawyer, who played the role of Ralph Dibney on 'The Flash' had been fired, after his racist and misogynistic tweets had been dug up. It also became a burning question, what would happen to Hartley's character in Season 7? The Elongated Man had just found his love interest in Sue Dearbon (Natalie Dreyfuss). Many fans hoped that their questions would be answered at 'The Flash' panel at DC FanDome 2020, but unfortunately, the topic was not even addressed.
"I was expecting @CW_TheFlash panel on #DCFanDome to finally address what's going to happen with Hartley Sawyer's character Ralph but they never touch the topic at all, at least tell us if the character would be recast or just disappear," a fan tweeted.
I was expecting @CW_TheFlash panel on #DCFanDome to finally address what's going to happen with Hartley Sawyer's character Ralph but they never touch the topic at all, at least tell us if the character would be recast or just dissappear.
— Ricardo Ricaud (@RicardoRios2004) August 22, 2020
"@CW_TheFlash segment on #DCFanDome was nicely done, but ignored the elongated elephant in the room. The Ralph/Susan storyline was obviously going to be a major point. Now what?," tweeted another.
@CW_TheFlash segment on #DCFanDome was nicely done, but ignored the elongated elephant in the room. The Ralph/Susan storyline was obviously going to be a major point. Now what?
— Steve Chaput (@stevec50) August 22, 2020
Some were upset that Hartley had been excluded altogether. "Really annoyed by the entire cast and production of #TheFlash. Exclude #HartleySawyer from everything. Congratulations on everyone's hypocrisy. This is so sad. @ewrote @CW_TheFlash@TheCW @DCComics @warnerbrostv@FLASHtvwriters
#RehireHartleySawyer #HereForHartley #DCFandome," a fan tweeted.
Really annoyed by the entire cast and production of #TheFlash. Exclude #HartleySawyer from everything. Congratulations on everyone's hypocrisy. This is so sad.@ewrote @CW_TheFlash @TheCW @DCComics @warnerbrostv @FLASHtvwriters#RehireHartleySawyer #HereForHartley #DCFandome
— Mateus 🍺🧙♂️🍫🦘⚽️🙊❤ (@Tweetandoficial) August 22, 2020
Back in June, it was announced that Hartley Sawyer would not return for Season 7 of the show, due to his old offensive tweets. The CW, producers Warner Bros. TV and Berlanti Productions and executive producer Eric Wallace said in the statement, "Hartley Sawyer will not be returning for season seven of The Flash. 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 policies, which strive and evolve to promote a safe, inclusive, and productive environment for our workforce."
The posts were deleted and Sawyer had apologized in a statement. "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."