The Flash’s Ezra Miller Issues Apology: ‘I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed’
"The Flash" star Ezra Miller has been making headlines for worrying reasons for a few months now. The star has
Ivy Griffith
"The Flash" star Ezra Miller has been making headlines for worrying reasons for a few months now.
The star has finally spoken out about the issues they're dealing with and has issued an apology. The reaction online has been mixed, to say the least.
See: From Hero to Villain: The DC Universe Curse Keeps Striking Down Stars One at a Time
Ezra Miller Apologizes Citing Mental Health Issues
Miller sent a statement to Variety, suggesting that mental health issues are at the root of their alarming behavior, which includes allegations of abuse and assault among others.
Variety shares, "Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment. I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.”
Response to Miller's apology has been mixed.
I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior.
Many online seem to believe it's a cop-out blaming their worrying and illegal behavior on mental health. Many also find their apology to be the epitome of understating, because suggesting that all they did was alarm and upset people is a swing far wide of the reality of their actions.
Others see it as a hopeful sign that the actor can get the help they need and perhaps find healthier coping strategies that don't involve harming others.
Warner Bros Can Release The Flash Now with a Clear Conscience, but Should They?
But whether or not people believe Miller's apology and find it enough, there's another question to be asked: should Warner Bros move ahead with the release of The Flash?
The production studio has come under fire recently after they canceled the $90M Batgirl movie but haven't even discussed the possibility of canceling the beset Flash movie.
Collider writes, "After spending eight years making cameos and starring in the DC Extended Universe, Miller’s future as the Flash was compromised after the actor was arrested twice in Hawaii for disorderly conduct. Since then, Miller got involved in multiple legal investigations for supposedly threatening people in public, stealing passports, robbing alcohol bottles, and even supplying illegal drugs to a minor. That’s definitely not heroic behavior and Warner Bros. Discovery feared Miller’s real-life troubles could harm their fantasy universe. That’s why Warner Bros. Discovery decided that Miller blaming the situation on their mental health and seeking professional help would be the best move to make sure The Flash marketing was not damaged by all the legal investigations. Miller surely got the message, as they seem willing to take the blame alone so that the DCEU can still profit."
Miller's apology is the mea culpa they needed to put the troubles behind them and release the movie as scheduled – or is it?
If Warner Bros continues ahead with the release of The Flash next year, it may signal to many that they don't care what illegal activities their actors get up to – including abuse of a minor – as long as they can apologize after.
It's an alarming precedent and reflects the kind of Hollywood atmosphere that existed before the #MeToo movement of the aught-teens.
Whether or not DC and Warner Bros fans will let this fly is uncertain at this point. Mental health after all is a hot topic debate in recent years, especially following the surge of mental health issues during the pandemic.
But is apologizing enough? Time will tell.