Candice Patton Says She Wanted to Quit 'The Flash' in Season 2 Because of Racist Fans
Candice Patton talks about her debut with Iris West in "The Flash". On a recent episode of "The Open Up Podcast," the CW star revealed that she wanted to leave the show as of the second season due to the racist abuse she received from the show's fans online. Patton then shared that she didn't receive support from the network at the time, which made the situation even more isolating.
"Now people understand how racist fans can be, especially in the [film and tv] genre, but back then it was kind of like, 'That's how the fans, whatever,'" Patton said. "Even with the companies I worked with, The CW and WB, that was their way of handling things. We know better now. It's not okay to treat your talent that way, to let them be abused. and harassment. For me in 2014, there were no support systems. No one cared. It was free to be abused every day. There were no social media protocols. in place to protect me, so they just left it there.
Due to the racism she faced online and lack of support, Patton considered leaving the show in season two as she was "very unhappy". The actor explained, "I remember saying, 'I can't do this. I'm not going to get out of this. I don't want to be here."
In the end, what kept her going was knowing how much the character of Iris meant to so many black women who saw themselves portrayed in a superhero show. In addition to her contractual obligation, Patton felt a "tremendous responsibility" in portraying Iris. "It was such an iconic cast, such an iconic role, and I knew how much it meant to so many people that I felt responsible for staying in a space and a place that was probably very toxic to my mental health," she said. .
Now that she's been on the show for eight seasons and counting, Patton says her situation has improved, but she wants studios to understand that black actors need protection, especially on sets where the representation is limited. "If I get pulled over at 2 a.m. in Jackson, Mississippi, by a white cop, do you think he doesn't care that I'm Candice Patton from 'The Flash'?" she explained. "It's okay. We still need protection because the world sees us in a certain way. When I get on a set and everyone working around me is white, I'm not protected and I will never be protected. And that is not to say that everyone has bad intentions, but they have blind spots. It may contribute to my harm. It has been a learning experience for companies and productions."
Patton returns to "The Flash" for Season 9 on The CW this fall. She is one of only three original cast members remaining, including Grant Gustin and Danielle Panabaker.
Image source:
Candice Patton talks about her debut with Iris West in "The Flash". On a recent episode of "The Open Up Podcast," the CW star revealed that she wanted to leave the show as of the second season due to the racist abuse she received from the show's fans online. Patton then shared that she didn't receive support from the network at the time, which made the situation even more isolating.
"Now people understand how racist fans can be, especially in the [film and tv] genre, but back then it was kind of like, 'That's how the fans, whatever,'" Patton said. "Even with the companies I worked with, The CW and WB, that was their way of handling things. We know better now. It's not okay to treat your talent that way, to let them be abused. and harassment. For me in 2014, there were no support systems. No one cared. It was free to be abused every day. There were no social media protocols. in place to protect me, so they just left it there.
Due to the racism she faced online and lack of support, Patton considered leaving the show in season two as she was "very unhappy". The actor explained, "I remember saying, 'I can't do this. I'm not going to get out of this. I don't want to be here."
In the end, what kept her going was knowing how much the character of Iris meant to so many black women who saw themselves portrayed in a superhero show. In addition to her contractual obligation, Patton felt a "tremendous responsibility" in portraying Iris. "It was such an iconic cast, such an iconic role, and I knew how much it meant to so many people that I felt responsible for staying in a space and a place that was probably very toxic to my mental health," she said. .
Now that she's been on the show for eight seasons and counting, Patton says her situation has improved, but she wants studios to understand that black actors need protection, especially on sets where the representation is limited. "If I get pulled over at 2 a.m. in Jackson, Mississippi, by a white cop, do you think he doesn't care that I'm Candice Patton from 'The Flash'?" she explained. "It's okay. We still need protection because the world sees us in a certain way. When I get on a set and everyone working around me is white, I'm not protected and I will never be protected. And that is not to say that everyone has bad intentions, but they have blind spots. It may contribute to my harm. It has been a learning experience for companies and productions."
Patton returns to "The Flash" for Season 9 on The CW this fall. She is one of only three original cast members remaining, including Grant Gustin and Danielle Panabaker.
Image source:
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