Disney+’s latest “Star Wars” series, “The Acolyte,” set 100 years before the events of “The Phantom Menace,” has ignited controversy, despite receiving praise from critics and many fans. The show, which features Amandla Stenberg, a Black LGBTQ+ actress, in the lead role, became the target of a vocal and toxic segment of the fanbase. These detractors, uncomfortable with the show’s diverse casting, engaged in review-bombing on platforms like IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, labeling the series as “woke” and dragging down its audience scores. Stenberg addressed the backlash on Instagram, acknowledging the “rampage of vitriol” that has surrounded the show since its announcement, stating that while some criticism was anticipated, the intensity and volume of hate were disheartening.
This pattern of harassment has plagued other “Star Wars” actors, such as John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, and Moses Ingram, who have also faced racist and misogynistic abuse from certain corners of the fandom. For many devoted fans, it’s exhausting to see the franchise they love marred by such negativity. However, as Stenberg and others have noted, the core values of “Star Wars” emphasize hope, diversity, and resistance against oppression—ideals that true fans continue to uphold, even in the face of this gatekeeping mentality.
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