Ezra Miller’s Grooming Charges Have Been Cleared, Can We Hope to See Them as Flash in the DCU?
The DCEU was controversial even without factoring in the personal dramas of its actors, and Ezra Miller became one of the biggest challenges as the cinematic universe drew to a close.
Miller made their debut as The Flash with a cameo in Batman v Superman and appeared in several more films, including their own standalone movie, The Flash, which served as the DCEU’s “reboot” through the Flashpoint storyline.
The movie faced widespread boycotts from both fans and non-fans, largely due to Ezra Miller’s legal troubles. The actor had been involved in a series of incidents, including disorderly conduct, a choking incident, harassment allegations, burglary charges, and various other issues in Hawaii and Vermont. However, the most damaging accusation was the grooming charges against Miller.
In June 2022, the Standing Rock Sioux tribal court issued a temporary protection order against Miller at the request of the parents of 18-year-old activist Tokata Iron Eyes. They claimed that Miller had used violence, manipulation, and drugs to control their daughter, whom they had known since she was 12. Although Tokata denied these allegations on social media, her parents believed she wasn’t in control of her accounts. Efforts to obtain a permanent protection order were ultimately dismissed. Miller later faced criticism for verbally abusing Tokata and for portraying themselves as a Messiah to Native Americans, despite not having Indigenous ancestry.
Years after the accusations, Tokata’s father, Chase Iron Eyes, clarified that he withdrew the complaint after realizing he had been misled. He explained that his initial belief was based on a story that has since been recanted. Now, Chase supports the band that Tokata and Miller are part of and is ready to move on from the controversy.
There’s a reason I support [Hundred in the Hand] and I don’t feel like I owe an explanation but after we hosted a party in Santa Fe we received some feedback. When you live your life under a public (tribal and non tribal) microscope of critique sometimes it seems it’s only the critique that makes its way through,I want to offer this on the drama 3 years ago when I filed a petition and claimed that Ezra appeared to have ‘groomed’ Tokata. I made that statement in my pleading (in a time of absolute war) based on information from a witness who then recanted and said nothing happened that they could infer anything inappropriate from. Thus, I immediately withdrew the court filings.
Now we are doing our level best to move on, to reconcile, to heal while remaining supportive as a father; as long as Tokata’s good we’re good. These are real people, living real lives and once you’re in that fire where there is no anonymity, there is no safe space for you to retreat. That’s a strange place and it’s not enviable. It takes a lot to enter the fray again.
With the grooming charges now cleared, at least legally, some fans are speculating whether Ezra Miller could return to the DCU as the Flash. While it’s possible that Flashpoint could be used as a narrative tool to explain Miller’s return as the Flash in the new DCU, it seems unlikely. This isn’t because Miller performed poorly as the Flash—in fact, they were quite good—but because of the numerous controversies that continue to surround them.
As previously mentioned, the grooming charges were just one part of a larger pattern of legal troubles, including allegations of violence, brainwashing, burglary, and harassment. James Gunn likely wants to avoid the potential complications that could arise from keeping Miller in the role and may prefer to start fresh with a new actor.
The DCEU faced heavy criticism toward the end, partly because of its refusal to recast problematic actors. Miller’s situation is just one example, alongside the backlash over Amber Heard reprising her role as Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
What do you think? Should Miller make a comeback? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
