Candice Patton, who portrays Iris West-Allen in The CW series The Flash, says the network did not defend her amidst racist backlash from fans of the show.
The actress has been a long-time cast of the show, having appeared from the very first episode in October 2014. Iris is one of the main characters, alongside Barry (Grant Gustin) and his peers at STAR Labs. She went from a budding journalist to establishing her own newspaper company. Indeed, Iris was more than just a romantic partner, but a strong lead character as well.
In her interview with The Open Up Podcast, she revealed that she faced racist criticisms in the early season of The Flash.
“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. 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.’… With the companies I was working with like CW and Warner Brothers, that was their way of handling it.”
Why Candice Patton Stayed In The Series
Patton is one of the first Black actresses to star in the Arrowverse. Having experienced such backlash, she wanted to leave the show in the second season. She also revealed that even on set, she was treated differently compared to her co-stars.
“It was more about the protocols in place and the things I see happening for my white counterpart that’s not happening to me. 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,” Patton added.
The actress stayed on the show because she believed she was playing a role with a significant representation. Despite enduring the criticisms from fans, Patton thinks that she was also harassed by the same team that was supposed to defend her.
