Ezra Miller, star of the DC movie The Flash, been accused of manipulating and abusing a minor.
The allegations are the latest in a recent string of upsetting real-world stories about the non-binary actor.
Miller is most famous for their roles as The Flash/Barry Allen In the DCEU, the disturbed title character of We Need To Talk About Kevin, Patrick in The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, and of course, Credence Barebone/Aurelius Dumbledore in the Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts franchise.
EZRA MILLER ACCUSED OF GROOMING A MINOR IN NEW TMZ REPORT
According to a new report from TMZ, a young woman named Tokata Iron Eyes, age 18, began a relationship with Ezra Miller when she was only 12 years old. Miller would have been 23 at the time. The TMZ article alleges that the parents of Tokata Iron Eyes are petitioning the court for a protective order of their daughter, in order to keep her safe from Ezra Miller. The report claims that Miller groomed Iron Eyes from a young age, effectively keeping her prisoner and supplying her with LSD, marijuana and alcohol.
Miller’s first run-in with law enforcement occurred in 2011, during the filming of The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, when they were arrested for simple marijuana possession. At the time, they released a statement explaining the situation, and their perspective on the controversial plant.
“I don’t feel like there’s any need to hide the fact that I smoke pot. It’s a harmless herbal substance that increases sensory appreciation”.
-Ezra Miller
For many years following that incident, Miller’s life outside the film industry was kept out of the spotlight. No arrests or controversies with the law or the establishment would occur until almost 10 years later.
In 2020, a video of Ezra Miller appearing to choke someone and throw them down went viral. The industry trade, Variety, reported that the video was filmed in Reykjavik, Iceland, at a bar called Prikið Kaffihús. Apparently, Ezra Miller was removed from the bar following the physical incident.
EZRA MILLER’S TROUBLE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IS BECOMING EXTENSIVE QUICKLY
After the choking event occurred in Iceland in 2020 there were some fans who called for action, imploring the studios which employed Ezra Miller, to react or respond to the bizarre and questionable video Miller was seen in. At the time, Miller suffered no consequences for their actions, aside from a slight hit to public perception of the Miller brand.
Earlier this year when Miller was once again involved in a controversy in Hawaii and subsequently arrested, the fans cried out once again. Miller was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment. Thousands of voices begged Hollywood to stop perpetuating the cycle of power, abuse, violence and criminal behavior which it has allowed and encouraged for generations.
Officially speaking, WarnerMedia did nothing.
When Miller was arrested for the second time in just a matter of weeks, this time for allegedly throwing a chair at a woman’s head, among other things, many expected a response from Warnermedia. After all, in a sense they are Miller’s primary employer as the owner of the Fantastic Beasts franchise as well as the DCEU. Surely, after all of this controversy, WarnerMedia/WBD wouldn’t sit around and do nothing to address the speedster-elephant in the room.
The Warner Brothers Discovery merger was made official around April 11th, and Ezra Miller was arrested for the second time in Hawaii on April 18th, a mere week later. Warner Brothers Discovery may not have seen it as a priority to address the situation right then and there, given the freshness of the merger. While that says something in itself, that was several months ago, and Warner Brothers Discovery has had every opportunity to release a statement to the people and the press explaining their relationship with Ezra Miller, and their feelings about these crimes. To date, they have not.
EZRA MILLER: SHOULD WBD CANCEL THE FLASH IN RESPONSE?
There are even some who think that The Flash movie should not be released because of Ezra Miller’s actions. While there is no doubt that there need be consequences when celebrities or other people in places of power abuse the law and their position in order to avoid serious punishment for their harmful deeds, Ezra Miller is far from the only individual who worked on The Flash movie. To cancel that film would be to cancel all of the hard work and hours that thousands of people put in to make that project happen.
That would be an injustice in its own right, and that’s not even to mention all of the Flash fans who would be robbed of the first solo film for their favorite superhero.
In my opinion, the right answer would be to announce the recasting of Ezra Miller shortly after The Flash has concluded its theatrical run. An announcement any earlier than that point could seriously hurt the reach of the project. Warner Brothers Discovery should additionally release a statement condemning the actions of this actor who is all over their roster. To stay silent while one of your actors is allegedly grooming minors, getting arrested, and getting restraining orders, is to encourage other celebrities to commit the same actions and fear no repercussions.
RELATED: THE FLASH TEST SCREENINGS BRING EXCITING NEWS FOR FANS
As a non-binary person, I always wanted Ezra Miller to succeed. As a fan of their work across many films, I wished them the best, even in light of these allegations. While the horrors that Miller is accused of in the TMZ article cannot be understated or overlooked, we must believe that everyone has a chance of rehabilitation and eventually change. But if we do not hold them accountable when they do terrible things, they will continue to do terrible things, hurt innocent people and themselves.
Hollywood has a responsibility to these actors, to the people they have influence over, and to the community at large. It is no coincidence that Hollywood was one of the biggest industries implicated in the Me Too movement. Pedophilia, sexual harassment and all the sorts of abuse have occurred in the highest levels of Hollywood for far too long, and it has to stop.
Is Ezra Miller A Fit Role Model?
While anyone with an open heart and half a brain can see that one member of the LGBTQIA+ Community does not represent all of us, roughly half the country may not fit that criteria. Discrimination is everywhere in my experience and in the experiences of countless people like me. Hate comes for us on a daily basis, both in this country and abroad. So regardless of the truthfulness of this TMZ exclusive, when a queer person such as myself sees it released, I brace for the far right to weaponize Miller’s actions in order to demonize all of us.
While their bigotry is not the fault of Miller or celebrities in similar positions, they have to acknowledge the influence that they have, and then act in an ethical way that will push public perception of our marginalized people forward, not backwards.
Writing this article brings me no joy. The alleged crimes Ezra Miller has committed are nightmarish to say the least, and the disregard for ethical journalism that TMZ displayed in their “exclusive” leaves a bad taste in the mouth. But it is the responsibility of the press to hold those in power accountable. Someone has to take a stand against evil in Hollywood, and as of now, it looks like Warner Brothers. Discovery may not be up to the task. Let’s hope the new company proves me wrong and displays a greater interest in legality and ethics than their own bottom line.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Iron Eyes family during this troubling time, and hope that this incident does as little damage to their private lives as possible.
How do you think Warner Brothers Discovery should handle the Ezra Miller situation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media.
KEEP READING: OBI-WAN KENOBI MAY BE DISNEY+ STAR WARS’ BIGGEST FAILURE TO DATE
Source: TMZ
