Ray Fisher confirms he’s been ‘removed’ from The Flash amid Warner Bros battle
Actor invoked murdered 14-year-old Emmett Till in statement on superhero film
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Your support makes all the difference.Ray Fisher has confirmed he’s been “removed” from a forthcoming The Flash movie, and offered to take a polygraph test in his ongoing feud with Warner Bros.
Fisher, who portrayed superhero Cyborg in the DC Universe franchise, has publicly condemned Warner Bros since last year over allegations of “abusive” behaviour on the set of the 2017’s Justice League.
In December, WarnerMedia confirmed that an investigation into Fisher’s claims had been conducted, with unspecified “remedial action” being taken.
Fisher has since turned his attention to Walter Hamada, the president of DC Films. Last month, Fisher said that he would not participate in any DC Films project as long as Hamada ran the studio. “Walter Hamada is the most dangerous kind of enabler,” Fisher alleged in a tweet.
On Wednesday (13 January), Fisher confirmed that he would not be a part of The Flash.
“I have received official confirmation that Warner Bros Pictures has decided to remove me from the cast of The Flash,” Fisher wrote in a lengthy statement posted on his Twitter. “I strongly disagree with their decision, but it is one that is unsurprising.”
He added that Cyborg’s original involvement in The Flash “was much larger than a cameo”, and that he was disappointed by the move. He argued, however, that his battle against Hamada would “prove to be a much more important contribution to our world”.
Fisher subsequently accused Hamada of “enabling” the unspecified events that he alleges occurred on the Justice League set. Specifically, Fisher claims he experienced “blatant racism” while working on the film.
“I maintain that Walter Hamada is unfit for a position of leadership,” Fisher added, “and I am willing, at any point, to submit to a polygraph test to support my claims against him. If the end of my time as Cyborg is the cost for helping to bring awareness and accountability to Walter Hamada’s actions – I’ll pay it gladly.”
Fisher concluded his statement by quoting educator and activist Mamie Till-Mobley, whose 14-year-old son Emmett was murdered by racists in 1955.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, WarnerMedia chair and CEO Ann Sarnoff said that she stood by Hamada.
“I believe in Walter Hamada and that he did not impede or interfere in the investigation,” she said. “Furthermore, I have full confidence in the investigation’s process and findings. Walter is a well-respected leader, known by his colleagues, peers, and me as a man of great character and integrity. As I said in Walter’s recent deal extension announcement, I’m excited about where he’s taking DC Films and look forward to working with him and the rest of the team to build out the DC Multiverse.”
The Independent has reached out to WarnerMedia for comment.
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