The official Star Wars Twitter account has called out racism in the Star Wars community after some fans of the franchise attacked Obi-Wan Kenobi star Moses Ingram after the Disney+ show aired last week.
Racist rhetoric has unfortunately continued to plague the Star Wars fandom, with fans reacting negatively to minority cast in lead roles throughout the Star Wars franchise. In recent years, some Star Wars community members have harassed Daisy Ridley, Kelly Marie Tran, John Boyega, and others who starred in various Star Wars properties. Ingram has become the most recent focus of these attacks.
Ingram plays Inquisitor Reva in Obi-Wan Kenobi, the newest Star Wars television show. When the show premiered last week, Ingram took to social media to reveal the harassment she has continued to receive, including people calling her a “diversity hire” or accusing Star Wars of “pandering,” as well as racist slurs and threats.
“There’s nothing anybody can do to stop this hate. And so I question my purposes even being here in front of you saying that this is happening,” Ingram said in an Instagram story.
Ingram thanked those in the community who stood up for her and attempted to silence racists. She ended the story by saying that everyone else is “weird.”
Star Wars responds to racist backlash from community
After seeing all of the racist DMs and comments sent to Ingram, Lucasfilm’s official Star Wars account decided to make a statement in defense of Ingram and to show their support for the actress.
“We are proud to welcome Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family and excited for Reva’s story to unfold. If anyone intends to make her feel in any way unwelcome, we have only one thing to say: we resist,” the tweet read.
Before the show premiered, Ingram said in an interview with The Independent that Lucasfilm warned her about likely racist reactions to her being in the show. She was told that they would offer full support and told her to let them know when it happens. Director Deborah Chow put “proper systems in place” to make Ingram feel “safe.”
Ingram added that she knows there are “pockets of hate” online and that she will gladly block those who attack her over her race.
Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman
Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.
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