Critics Under Fire for Fawning Over Ezra Miller’s ‘The Flash’
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The review embargo hasn’t even lifted for The Flash, but positive reactions to DC’s summer blockbuster are already earning backlash online. After CinemaCon attendees saw an early screening of the film on Tuesday, many began tweeting out enthusiastic reviews on social media—leaving some fans peeved at their failure to mention lead actor Ezra Miller’s violent outbursts over the past few years.
In 2020, Miller allegedly choked a woman in an Icelandic bar. Then, in 2022, the actor had a handful of incidents in Hawaii, where they were arrested for disorderly conduct and second-degree assault. Miller was also accused of menacing a 12-year-old and their mother, allegedly “acting inappropriately” to the child.
‘The Flash’ Trailer: Ezra Miller Makes First Post-Allegations Appearance
As Warner Bros. and DC struggled to strategize how to release their completed movie, Miller came out with a statement apologizing for their actions: “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,” Miller said in their statement to The Daily Beast. “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.”
That was in August of 2022. Now, as the movie is gearing up for release, Miller is back in the spotlight—and so are their many, many controversies. Nevertheless, the studio and DC execs have had nothing but marvelous words to say about The Flash; James Gunn, the new co-CEO of DC Studios, deemed it “fucking amazing.”
Folks like Gunn, of course, are showering praise upon The Flash because they’re trying to sell a movie. But now, a handful of critics at CinemaCon have shared similar opinions.
“I know Ezra Miller has made a lot of mistakes but they are soooooo good in this movie,” Collider editor-in-chief Steven Weintraub shared on Twitter. “Loved [Michael] Keaton, the action, humor and emotion. Andy Muschietti has crafted something special. Thumbs way up.”
We Live Entertainment’s Scott Menzel shared, “Ezra Miller is the heart and soul of the film. Ezra’s performance carries the entire weight of the story. It is a dual performance and really showcases Ezra’s incredible talent as a performer.”
#TheFlash is fantastic. I know Ezra Miller has made a lot of mistakes but they are soooooo good in this movie. Loved Keaton, the action, humor and emotion. Andy Muschietti has crafted something special. Thumbs way up.
WB didn’t show the after the credits scenes. pic.twitter.com/J8KsdrKVwz— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) April 26, 2023
I am happy to confirm that #TheFlash is the best DC film since The Dark Knight. Keaton returns to his iconic role seamlessly and is joined by a League of familiar faces that fans will be Super surprised to see 😉. This is the kind of movie we need now. pic.twitter.com/nE8jEuvZSO
— Scoob (@ScoobertOnFilm) April 26, 2023
Some social media users, however, are fed up with the unabashed praise for The Flash, especially all the excuses made on Miller’s part.
“A colleague once asked me if Warner Bros. was going to struggle with its Ezra Miller redemption tour for The Flash and I said no because there are too many people in our field who will willingly aid the propaganda for a poster quote and goodie bag,” writer Kayleigh Donaldson shared.
More folks fought back against the raves for Miller specifically, as seen in the tweets below.
A colleague once asked me if Warner Bros. was going to struggle with its Ezra Miller redemption tour for The Flash and I said no because there are too many people in our field who will willingly aid the propaganda for a poster quote and goodie bag. https://t.co/0BsuX0aKbi
— Kayleigh Donaldson (@Ceilidhann) April 26, 2023
Translation: Ezra Miller abused multiple people but don’t worry about it folks because they are sooooo good in #TheFlash https://t.co/ctxzE7WO5i
— TG✨🇯🇲 (@TerrelleGraham) April 26, 2023
it really is bizarre that we were at a point that an Ezra Miller horror story was coming out like once a week for a good stretch there and all it amounted to was movie insiders tweeting “no but The Flash is REALLY good!”
— Blake ™ (@NeilNevins) April 26, 2023
I think there's room for separation of art and artist in liking an acting performance, but I'd never imagine going out of my way to make a whole tweet praising a POS performance in a new movie https://t.co/ul62XAkHVI
— Skye (@MasterPdwts) April 26, 2023
Though this isn’t really a situation that can be boiled down to “discourse,” considering the arrests and allegations made against Miller, we can surely expect to hear much more discussion about The Flash as more reviews pour in later this year.
The Flash hits theaters on June 16.
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