The Flash's Grant Gustin and Stephen Amell speak out after co-star Hartley Sawyer fired for racist remarks

The Flash star Grant Gustin has spoken out after co-star Hartley Sawyer was fired from the show this week when his racist and misogynistic remarks resurfaced on Twitter. 

Gustin, who plays the titular character on the hit series, reacted to the news on Instagram while reposting a recent statement made by the show's executive producer Eric Wallace.

"They broke my heart and made me mad as hell," Wallace wrote about Sawyer's racist remarks. "And they're indicative of the larger problem in our country."

These words also ring true for 30-year-old Gustin, who reposted Wallace's statement to his own Instagram account.

"I don't have much to add because Eric's thoughts are stated so eloquently and powerfully," Gustin wrote. "I will say I was shocked, saddened and angry when I saw the tweets. Words matter."

In a trickle on effect, former Arrow and The Flash star Stephen Amell then shared Gustin's post to Twitter.

"Grant is one of the most thoughtful guys I know. He listens... and he wears his heart on his sleeve. Proud to have worked with him...Also... I'm aware that the showrunner wrote this. I'm supporting my friend. That's it," tweeted Amell, who played Green Arrow in the series from its 2014 premiere up until his departure last year. 

Sawyer came under fire this week when messages he tweeted mainly between 2012 and 2014 were brought to light. One tweet read, "The only thing keeping me from doing mildly racist tweets is the knowledge that [black civil rights activist] Al Sharpton would never stop complaining about me," while another stated, "Out at dinner and just exposed myself as a racist, AGAIN." 

In his misogynistic remarks, Sawyer wrote, "As a lad, one of my favorite activities was kidnapping homeless women and cutting off their breasts," while also sharing that he "enjoyed a secret boob viewing at an audition today." The actor has since apologised but the damage was done.

"My words, irrelevant of being meant with an intent of humor, were hurtful, and unacceptable. I am ashamed I was capable of these really horrible attempts to get attention at that time. I regret them deeply. This was not acceptable behavior. These were words I threw out at the time with no thought or recognition of the harm my words could do, and now have done today," he wrote on May 31. 

"I am incredibly sorry, ashamed and disappointed in myself for my ignorance back then. I want to be very clear: this is not reflective of what I think or who I am now."