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Is There An End Credit Scene in 'The Flash'?
Since The Flash first debuted in 2014, Candice Patton has played the female lead on the show. It hasn’t always been easy for her, however, according to recent comments she made on The Open Up Podcast.
The actress, who plays journalist Iris West-Allen, spoke about how racist remarks made my fans toward her was shrugged off by The CW and Warner Bros. in her early days of the Arrowverse series.
“In 2014, there were no support systems,” she said, “no one was looking out for that. It was just free range to get abused every single day.”
Patton says being one of the first Black actresses in the DC TV Universe was no easy task.
“It’s a dangerous place to be in when you’re one of the first, and you’re facing backlash for it and there’s no help,” she continued. “Now, people understand a little better and they understand how fans can be racist, especially in genre, and misogynistic. But at the time it was kind of like: ‘Yeah that’s how fans are, but whatever.’”
She added that she didn’t always feel she had much support regarding this issue.
“With the companies I was working with like CW and Warner Brothers, that [‘whatever’] was their way of handling it. I think we know better now that it’s not okay to treat your talent that way and to let them go through this abuse and harassment.”
It grew tiring for her to continue dealing with fan racism without, what she felt, would be the appropriate support.
“I wanted to leave the show as early as season two. I remember being like: ‘I can’t do this, I’m not gonna make it through, I’m severely unhappy.’ “
She also says she believes she was treated differently than white actors.
“It was more about the protocols in place and the things I see happening for my white counterpart that’s not happening to me,” Patton said. “Seeing how I was treated differently than other people. Seeing how I’m not protected by the network and the studio. Those were the things that not necessarily hurt me but frustrated me.”
Warner Bros. TV and The CW have not yet responded to these comments.
