When Sparkle It debuted on The CW in the fall of 2014, and not only introduced viewers to a whole new angle of the then-booming Arrowverse. Fans have also gifted a number of talented actors, including actress Iris West (eventually Allen) Candice Patton. The star has become a fan favorite over the years, with many coming to appreciate her role as the popular DC Comics character. Sadly, things got off to a rough start for Patton, as her team was met with a great deal of backlash from “fans”. Now, as the superhero show heads toward what could be its final season, Patton is opening up about committing to the role despite online harassment and an initial lack of “support systems.”
It was a bit surprising when Candice Patton was cast as Iris West, considering that the character has historically been portrayed as a red-haired white. However, from the jump, there were a number of people who appreciated the change in this new take on the Flash mythos. Unfortunately, this positive sentiment has been accompanied by a wave of racist and misogynistic attacks on social media. Patton basically climbed into an arena where no countermeasures for such things had been put in place at the time. And for the star—who was one of DCTV’s first high-profile black actresses—it was hard to deal with:
It’s also a very dangerous place to be when you’re one of the first, and you get a lot of backlash from it and no help. Now, people understand it a little better, and they understand how racist fans can be, especially in the genre, misogynistic all that. But at the time, it was more like: “Yeah, that’s how fans are, but whatever.” Even with the companies I’ve been working with, the CW and Warner Brothers, that was their way of doing it. I think we know very well now that it is not a good idea to treat your talent in this way and allow them to go through such abuse and harassment. But for me, in 2014, there were no support systems, no one was looking for it. It was just a free domain to be abused every single day…there were no social media protocols to protect me. They let all that stuff sit there.
This vitriol has become very popular when it comes to fans, such as Sparkle It’s not the only TV series or movie whose actors have had to deal with such abuse. For all her time on the show, Candice Patton once again applauded the haters. For example, when someone once claimed that she was sabotaging the show, she gave a response that was gold. Dealing with such negativity can be annoying, but as I explained The Open audio notation (Opens in a new tab)what I found really “frustrating” was the way she treated her differently from her fellow stars:
It’s more than everyday things that affect me, like the protocols in place [and] The things I see happen to my white counterpart that do not happen to me. Seeing how I am treated differently from others. I see how I am not protected by network and studio. They are not promoted in the same way they sometimes promote others. Those were the things that didn’t necessarily hurt me but did frustrate me.
During the conversation, a file Youth and turmoil The alum even admitted that she wanted to “leave the show early in season two” of Sparkle Because she was feeling “sad”. I think many of us would agree that she hasn’t had to go through such things over the past several years, but at least, her experiences have yielded positives. Today, studios are more attentive when it comes to protecting actors of color from such attacks. The star Wars The franchise spoke of the racist reaction that Obi-Wan KenobiMoses greeted Ingram, severely tormenting those who shared negative feelings.
Candice Patton, as previously mentioned, has become a beloved part of the DCTV legend and helped pave the way for other women of color within the genre. Patton, along with others like titansAnna Diop, spoke about acting and why it’s important. Furthermore, Iris West has been portrayed as a black woman in the latest comedy and animation productions, a trend that arguably started through Patton’s work.
Most recently, Candice Patton missed a number of episodes during the eighth season of Sparkle (which recently concluded) But before the end, her return for Season 9 was confirmed. One hopes that as the show enters its final year, Button will be treated with the dignity and respect she has so well deserved.
past seasons Sparkle It can be streamed with a Netflix subscription.
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