The Star Wars franchise has been grappling with relentless online hate and criticism, affecting performers and creators. Despite expanding to include diverse representation, it has also faced backlash. The future of Star Wars should focus on representation and inclusivity, overcoming toxic elements within the fandom. The resurgence of controversies and criticisms directed at Star Wars projects demonstrates that the beloved sci-fi franchise is no exception.
Performers and creators have been continuously attacked by a particular set of audience members, scrutinizing every aspect of Star Wars with venomous accusations. This vitriol has spread throughout the internet, making it impossible to discuss Star Wars without turning every conversation into a heated debate. The prequel-era actors received well-documented abuse from fans, and since then, negative Star Wars voices have only been amplified by the mainstream spread of social media.
Leslye Headland’s groundbreaking series has been relentlessly review-bombed online, resulting in a huge disparity between its positive critical reception and abysmal audience score on aggregate websites like Rotten Tomatoes. The original Star Wars movies were a product of a different time, with a mostly white cast, female characters with unrealized potential, and no LGBTQ+ storylines. While the original trilogy remains iconic, its premise still feels magical to watch, creating such an impact on viewers’ minds that many consider it the definitive guide to the Star Wars experience. Unfortunately, this mindset severely limits the understanding of what a Star Wars story can be.
A Still From Star Wars movies (Photo: Star Wars)
Modern Star Wars projects have expanded the universe while battling online hate. The prequels introduced Ahsoka, a powerful heroine, and the introduction of Padmé Amidala showed a powerful, fictional queen. Disney’s efforts to tell diverse Star Wars stories have been marred by online hate, with many casting decisions, like Daisy Ridley as Rey and John Boyega as Finn, resulting in constant online harassment. The hate reached a fever pitch with The Last Jedi’s release, causing Kelly Marie Tran to quit Instagram due to online harassment. Flash forward to The Rise of Skywalker, and the reductive representation of Rose Tico and the lack of queer storylines felt disappointing.
In this instance, it felt like the most vocal opponents of the sequels’ central performances had won. The latest installments in the Star Wars universe have built upon the franchise’s contemporary legacy by including more representative storylines in an age of digital hate. The lesbian relationship between Vel Sartha and Cinta Kaz in Andor marks an important step forward for LGBTQ+ inclusion, as does the relationship between Osha and Mae’s mothers in The Acolyte.
As the franchise navigates the turbulent waters of its fandom, it’s essential to focus on representation and inclusivity. The future of Star Wars should be guided by the creative vision of those who understand the importance of storytelling and the potential for the franchise to be a force for good. True fans understand that the Star Wars universe is a sci-fi wonderland where anything can happen, and the future looks bright for those who have already opened up their minds to the compassion that all audience members should have learned a long time ago.
