Candice Patton opens up about her experience with online bullying after debuting on the CW series. Excitement.
in conversation the open podcastPatton, who has played Iris West on the series since 2014, explained that she wanted to leave the show “already in season two” because she felt “very unhappy” with the abusive messages from fans online.
Excitement The actress explained that being on the show and “changing the way people think about the superhero genre and creating spaces for women of color who never had it” was a “huge responsibility” that came with “a lot of attention”. He noted that “it’s also a very dangerous place to be when you’re one of the first and you get a lot of negative reactions from him and you have no help”.
“People understand that a little bit better now, and they understand how racist fans can be, especially in a genre that’s all misogynistic, but at the time it was like, ‘That’s what fans are, whatever.'” Patton said. . . “Even with the companies I worked with, The CW and WB, I think that’s how they handled it. I think we know better now. It’s not good to treat your talent this way: let it be abused and harassed.
Patton stated that “there were no support systems back then” and “I was free to be abused every day”.
“The social media protocols weren’t there to protect me, they just left it there,” he added. “It’s not enough for me to become their leader and say, ‘Look at us, we’re so progressive, we check the box.’ It’s great, but you put me in the ocean alone with sharks.
To effect change, Patton emphasized, there must be “people in positions of power who understand my experience and understand the black experience, the black woman’s experience, who can say, ‘Okay, she needs protection.’
“I think whenever you hire someone who is a minority of any kind, you should be prepared to protect them,” Patton explained. “Because in the real world we are not protected. Just because you put us on a good Hollywood TV set or film hair and makeup and think we’re safe, we’re not.
“It’s like being pulled over by a white police officer in Jackson, Mississippi, at 2 am. Do you think it bothers you that I am Candy’s master? Excitement? It doesn’t matter,” he added. “We still need protection because the world sees us a certain way. When I go on set and everyone who works around me is white, I’m not sure and I never will. And that doesn’t mean everyone has it. bad intentions, but they have blind spots and that can contribute to my loss. It was a learning experience, I’m sure, for companies, corporations and products.”
Patton shared that he was also more affected by “daily routines” and “established protocols” and stated that he was not treated the same compared to others. “I remember asking my publicist, ‘Do you think you can handle it?’ Excitement Will you accompany me with the report?” – she remembers. “When I was interested in this shit and wanted to get involved.”
As he continued to reflect on his early days on the series, Patton said he remembers feeling extremely unhappy and recalled feeling, “I’m not going to do this.” The actor said he ended up being not only out of contractual obligations, but also out of a “huge sense of responsibility” because his fans “loved the character”.
“It was such an iconic cast, such an iconic role, and I knew how much it meant to so many people that I felt a responsibility to stay in a space and a place that was probably very toxic to my mental health,” she said. . . . “Going through this ordeal, I learned a lot. I’m tougher this way. “
Patton said things are “more even now” and there has been more talk of the issues since then. As for your future on the show, Excitement The star shared that the upcoming season of the CW series “will likely be the last” for her to move on and “break free” from the character identity she’s been “tied to for so long.”
“I think a part of him has to die for me to live,” he said.
After the interview, Patton shared his appreciation for the podcast on social media for “creating a safe space for me to talk about things I’ve never talked about.”
“My most sincere hope is that the industry will improve and become more inclusive,” he continued. “I am deeply optimistic about the future. Despite the ordeal, I’m so grateful to have stayed out of the race and I’m looking forward to moving the needle, even if it’s just a millimeter. No one is perfect, myself included, so thank you to everyone who listened with an open heart and mind. “
the hollywood reporter CW representatives were contacted Excitement and CW. Warner Bros. Television had no comment.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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