- Ezra Miller has a history of troubling behavior dating back to 2019.
- In August 2022, Miller said they are seeking help for "complex mental health issues."
Fall 2019: Miller started exhibiting 'disturbing' behavior on a movie set
In an investigative report into Miller's behavior by Insider reporters Melkorka Licea and Katie Warren published in early August 2022, crew members on the feminist thriller "Asking For It" (who preferred to remain anonymous) said they noticed Miller behaving erratically on set in fall 2019.
The sources said the actor would often wear "long robes, a cape, and a unicorn head despite scorching temperatures" that were not part of the character's wardrobe. A production member also said their mental state on set seemed "scattered."
More worrying on-set behavior continued a few months later on the limited series "The Stand."
An extra named Kevin Armstrong told Insider that Miller "incessantly screeched, spit, and interrupted the director by screaming during filming." Armstrong said that when he complained, he was told Miller was method acting, but a former associate of Miller's told Insider that their behavior escalated to the point where "people on set were not feeling safe."
February and March 2020: Miller invited guests to an Airbnb in Iceland that one person described as a 'commune'
When production on their movie "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" shut down in London because of COVID-19, Miller went to Iceland.
They rented an Airbnb in the Reykjavík suburb of Kópavogur and invited artists, spiritual advisers, and friends to stay there. A woman who visited told Insider the residence resembled a "commune."
"I felt like everyone was hypnotized," she added, noting that guests seemed "enamored" by Miller and were "hanging on their every word."
Other guests of the Airbnb told Insider that Miller would often give long speeches about spirituality to their guests and claimed that they had supernatural powers. Their spiritual adviser and personal assistant Jasper Young Bear told some Icelandic residents that he cut off at least one of his fingers during a ritual ceremony, according to Insider's report.
Several people told Insider that Miller often exhibited mood swings and would get angry with guests who wanted to leave the Airbnb.
April 2020: A video of Miller appearing to choke a woman outside of a bar in Iceland went viral
In April 2020, a video of Miller appearing to choke a woman outside of a bar in Iceland called Prikið Kaffihús went viral. No charges were ever filed by authorities after the incident and neither Miller nor their representatives have ever given a statement about the encounter. (Representatives for Miller didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment in July.)
The woman who Miller appeared to choke later told Variety in July that she thought their interaction was "just fun and games" at first.
She told Variety that after joking with the actor that she could take Miller in a fight, the situation escalated. Miller took the jokes about a fight seriously, according to the woman, and she said Miller suddenly got "on top of me, choking me, still screaming in my face if I want to fight."
The woman who accused Miller of placing her in the chokehold reported the incident to police at the time, as confirmed by Variety, but she did not press charges.
April 2020: Reports of troubling behavior continued at Iceland's Hótel Laugarbakki
Later in April, as Insider reported, Miller went to Iceland's Hótel Laugarbakki to record music. They invited local musicians to spend time with them. A young woman, who was 18 at the time, told Insider that she became involved with Miller on the first night.
The woman said she spent six days with Miller and experienced their unpredictable mood swings. She said they would say they loved her one minute and the next call her "fucking disgusting."
"There was a lot of psychological abuse," the young woman said.
She said Miller eventually became preoccupied with her ability to breed. The woman went back to Reykjavík with Miller and when she got home, her concerned roommate gave her literature on cults and said that what she was reading was "the exact same thing that I was in with Ezra."
March and April 2022: They got into legal trouble in Hawai'i
Miller made headlines in March and April of 2022 because they were arrested several times while staying in Hawai'i. In mid-March, they were cited for obstructing a highway, per The Hollywood Reporter. Police said they were "uncooperative and refused to leave the area and continued to obstruct a sidewalk," the site reported.
Later that month, Miller was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct for their behavior at a karaoke bar in Hawai'i. According to a post from the Hawai'i Police Department on Facebook, Miller became "agitated" when patrons began singing.
"Miller began yelling obscenities and at one point grabbed the microphone from a 23-year-old woman singing karaoke (disorderly conduct offense) and later lunged at a 32-year-old man playing darts (harassment offense)," the statement read in part.
Miller's bail was set at $500, which was paid, and they were later released, police said.
The day after the incident at the bar, on March 29, a couple filed (and eventually dropped) a restraining order against Miller, alleging the actor had broken into their home, threatened to kill them, and stolen a passport and wallet from them, per a KITV 4 ABC report.
In April, Miller was again arrested in Hawai'i on charges of second-degree assault when they allegedly refused to leave a residence. Police told THR that Miller "became irate after being asked to leave and reportedly threw a chair, striking a 26-year-old female on the forehead, resulting in an approximate half-inch cut."
May and June 2022: Protective orders against Miller were granted
For Insider's report published in August, reporters spoke to Sara Jumping Eagle and Chase Iron Eyes, parents of Tokata Iron Eyes, who met Miller at the age of 12 and stayed in touch with the "Fantastic Beasts" actor. Tokata enrolled in Bard College at Simon's Rock, which is less than two hours from Miller's Vermont farm.
Tokata dropped out of college in December 2021 and began to travel with Miller. In May 2022, Iron Eyes and Jumping Eagle learned the pair were in Los Angeles and traveled to bring Tokata, then 18, home. The couple told Insider that when they "begged" Tokata to come home, Miller called an Uber and demanded Tokata leave with them.
Jumping Eagle said that when she tried to reach into the car to talk to Tokata, Miller "slammed the door on Jumping Eagle's arms so hard she had to be treated at an urgent-care clinic," per Insider's report. Insider viewed medical records that confirm Jumping Eagle's account of her injuries. Miller and Tokata left the scene in the Uber and Iron Eyes and Jumping Eagle were unsure they'd see Tokata again.
In a text message to Insider, Tokata said they asked Miller to call the Uber.
After the incident, in early June, Tokata's parents filed and were granted a restraining order by the Standing Rock Sioux tribal court in North Dakota, their tribal court that operates outside of the US court system. Per a Los Angeles Times report, authorities couldn't "locate or serve" Miller.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the order required Miller to stay away from Iron Eyes and Jumping Eagle for 30 days, and keep "100 yards away from the family's residence."
"Ezra uses violence, intimidation, threat of violence, fear, paranoia, delusions, and drugs to hold sway over a young adolescent," the protection order said, per the Los Angeles Times. Tokata, though an adult in the eyes of US law, was considered a minor in tribal courts.
Around this time, Tokata appeared in a video on social media and said "My choices are my own."
Separately in June, a judge in Massachusetts granted the mother of a 12-year-old an order of protection on behalf of her child. According to THR, the decision stated that the protection was granted because there was evidence to support a "substantial likelihood of immediate danger of harassment."
Early August 2022: Miller's legal troubles continued in Vermont
In early August 2022, Miller was charged with felony burglary in Vermont and accused of taking "several bottles of alcohol" from an unoccupied residence in May.
Also in August, police attempted to serve a 25-year-old mother with three young children with an emergency order "demanding" that the children be removed from Miller's home and her care, THR reported. According to the report, Miller said that they hadn't lived with the woman "for months" but authorities believed she was evading service. Neighbors said the mother and children were in danger because of unsecured guns Miller kept on their Vermont property.
August 2022: Miller released a statement saying they are seeking help and reportedly hope to move forward with Warner Bros.
In mid-August 2022, Miller released a statement saying they're seeking help for "complex mental health issues," Variety first reported.
"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 read.
"I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior," added Miller, per the outlet. "I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe, and productive stage in my life."
As Miller's behavior was becoming increasingly erratic, his future as the DC superhero The Flash was questioned by the media. On August 26, THR reported that Miller and their agent Scott Metzger met with Warner Bros. film chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy on August 24 to discuss how Miller could "stay on course for 'The Flash's' June 23, 2023, release date" and "reaffirm their commitment to the movie as well as apologize for bringing negative attention to the production and the company."
Sources told the site that Miller agreed to seek help after learning that there was a possibility the film's release would be canceled. A source told THR that Miller cared about the franchise and the Flash is "one of their favorite characters to play."
October 2022: Miller pleaded not guilty to felony burglary charges in Vermont
Miller pleaded not guilty to the aforementioned felony burglary charges in Vermont on October 17, Deadline reported. If found guilty, they face up to 26 years in prison and "over $2,000" in fines, according to Deadline.
During an appearance in Vermont's Superior Court, which Miller was allowed to attend virtually, they were also ordered by judge Judge Kerry A. McDonald-Cady not to interact with the neighbor whose home they were accused of entering and to also stay away from another Vermont resident as some of the conditions of their release.
Miller said that they understood the conditions of their release, according to Deadline's report, and their attorney, Lisa B. Shelkrot, shared a statement with Deadline after the October 17 hearing: "Ezra would like to acknowledge the love and support they have received from their family and friends, who continue to be a vital presence in their ongoing mental health."
January 2023: Miller took a plea deal to avoid jail time
As reported by Variety, Miller pleaded guilty to unlawful trespassing in the Vermont burglary case and avoided jail time. They were sentenced to a $500 fine and a year of probation. Miller also agreed to 41 conditions of the deal, including "no drinking, random drug tests, and a commitment to continue seeking mental health treatment," Variety reported.
After their sentencing, a representative for Miller released a statement on their behalf:
"Ezra Miller pled guilty this morning to a misdemeanor unlawful trespass in Vermont Superior Court and accepted the conditions imposed by the court. Ezra would like to thank the court and the community for their trust and patience throughout this process, and would once again like to acknowledge the love and support they have received from their family and friends, who continue to be a vital presence in their ongoing mental health."
February 2023: 'The Flash' trailer premiered during the Super Bowl
"The Flash" trailer premiered during Super Bowl LVII on February 12, announcing that Miller's long-awaited movie would premiere on June 16.
April 2023: After an early screening of the film, 'The Flash' director said Miller is 'very committed to getting better'
After a screening of "The Flash" film, during a Q&A attended by Entertainment Weekly, sibling filmmaking partners Andrés and Barbara Muschietti commented on Miller's mental health state.
"We're all hoping that they get better... They're taking the steps to recovery," Andrés Muschietti, who directed the film, said. "They're dealing with mental health issues, but they're well. We talked to them not too long ago, and they're very committed to getting better."
Barbara Muschietti, who was a producer on the film, added that while on set, Miller's "commitment" to the character of The Flash was above anything she'd ever seen.
"The discipline to the work, the willingness — physical, mental, and just wanting to go beyond the pale — is just amazing, she added.
Critics who have viewed the film both in Los Angeles and at CinemaCon in Las Vegas had positive reactions to it. Insider's Jason Guerrasio called it "an impressive DC movie with lots of emotion and loads of surprises."
—Jason Guerrasio (@JasonGuerrasio) April 26, 2023
June 2023: Miller attended 'The Flash' premiere
On June 12, Miller attended the Los Angeles premiere of "The Flash" at Ovation Hollywood, walking the red carpet and posing for photos with Muschietti and their costars, including Ben Affleck. Variety reported that it was the actor's first high-profile industry appearance in almost two years and that DC Studios had confirmed ahead of time that the LA premiere would be Miller's sole publicity commitment for the film, which hits theaters nationwide on June 16.
Per videos shared by Deadline, Miller thanked several people involved in the film, like Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, "Justice League" director Zack Snyder, and Muschietti, ahead of the screening. The actor also acknowledged DC Studios co-leaders James Gunn and Peter Safran, expressing gratitude for their "grace and discernment and care" in the "context" of Miller's life and "in bringing this moment to fruition."
—Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) June 13, 2023
Miller showered praise onto Muschietti, who introduced them at the event: "I love you, maestro. I think you're amazing, and I think your work is monumental."
The actor also issued a more general thank you to everyone who helped make "The Flash" and to their supporters.
"Just the thousands of artists and workers who made this movie, everybody who supported us in our lives and in the world," Miller said. "And everybody who supported me in my life and in the world along this decade long trying and very beautiful peregrination."