Warner Bros. Discovery is facing backlash for ‘ignoring’ Ezra Miller‘s alleged crimes after The Flash star was seen walking the red carpet for their new movie premiere.
Miller, 30, who uses they/them pronouns, made their first public appearance in almost two years at the premiere of The Flash on Monday, smiling as they strutted the red carpet and taking selfies with fans.
The actor later presented the opening speech at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles. They thanked Warner Bros bosses for ‘their grace and discernment and care in the context of my life and in bringing this moment to fruition.’
But Miller’s appearance was met with fury online with many commenters referencing troubling allegations against him, including grooming a teenage girl and other crimes which he has admitted, such as unlawful trespass in Vermont last year.
The studio is standing by the star, with director Andy Muschietti insisting that he is the only actor who can play The Flash. ‘I don’t think there’s anyone that can play that character as well as they did,’ he said on a recent podcast.
Ezra Miller, 30, made their first public appearance in almost two years at the premiere of their new film The Flash on Monday
The nonbinary actor who uses they/them pronouns has faced a slew of legal troubles over the past few years
Many online have now hit out at Warner Bros for continuing to support the embattled actor
Miller has been arrested several times for assault and burglary; faced accusations of grooming a teenage girl who ran away with them; and reportedly provided housing for a mother and three young children at an unlicensed cannabis farm in Vermont despite opposition from their father.
Miller was arrested twice in Hawaii in early 2022 — once for disorderly conduct and harassment where he yelled obscenities at a woman singing karaoke and lunged at a man playing darts, then again for second-degree assault after he allegedly threw a chair at a woman.
Just a few months later, in June 2022, Miller was accused of living with a Hawaii-based mother of three and her young children at his Vermont farmhouse, surrounded by guns and large quantities of marijuana.
The children’s father said the actor was putting them in danger.
By August 2022, Miller was again arrested and charged with felony burglary after police said they broke into a home and stole bottles of liquor.
But Warner Bros executives have continued to support the star, even suggesting they may reprise their role as the titular superhero in a possible sequel.
Miller has been accused of disturbing and violent behavior going back to at least 2020, when a video emerged showing the actor apparently choking a woman while at a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland.
A source told Variety the incident took place after ‘pushy fans’ approached Miller and the actor lost their temper. No charges were filed against the actor at that time.
They were later arrested twice in Hawaii in the pan of a few weeks between March and April 2022.
Just a few months later, in June 2022, Miller was accused of living with a Hawaii-based mother of three and her young children at his Vermont farmhouse, surrounded by guns and large quantities of marijuana.
By August 2022, Miller was again arrested and charged with felony burglary.
They issued a statement in August apologizing for their behavior while revealing that they were seeking treatment for ‘complex mental health issues.’
Their reps told Variety in a statement: ‘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.’
The statement continued: ‘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.’
The future of The Flash franchise was left uncertain at that point, but studio executives continued to push forward the $200 million project.
Several Twitter users noted the difference between Warner Bros apparent acceptance of Miller with how other actors have been treated in the past
‘This industry never ceases to disgust me,’ one Twitter user wrote.
‘With y’all giving Ezra Miller this superstar [treatment] as if that motherf***** isn’t an ACTUAL criminal and groomer, don’t be launching boycott campaigns IF Marvel keeps Jonathan Majors as Kang and Tenoch Herta as Namor because of this.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to Warner Bros Discovery for comment.
The studio is now apparently standing by the star, with director Andy Muschietti saying in a recent podcast appearance he would like Miller to reprise the role of the titular hero in a possible sequel.
‘If [a sequel] happens, yes, [Ezra would play The Flash],’ he said on The Discourse podcast. ‘I don’t think there’s anyone that can play that character as well as they did.’
He continued: ‘The other depictions of the character are great, but this particular vision of the character, they just excelled in doing it. And, as you said, the two Barrys — it feels like a character that was made for them.’
His producing partner, Barbara Muschietti, also raved about Miller’s performance and expressed her desire for them to reprise their role in the DC Universe.
‘In principal photography, Ezra was brilliant and the most committed and the most professional [actor].
‘Ezra gave everything for this role — physically, creatively, emotionally,’ she continued. ‘They were absolutely supreme.’
Warner Bros studio executives continued to push forward the $200 million The Flash film despite Miller’s run-ins with the law. The actor is pictured in the film as the titular superhero
In an upcoming episode of The Discourse podcast, the film’s director said he would like the actor to reprise the superhero role in a potential sequel