The Star Wars fandom. Star Wars has become cornerstone content on Disney+, with a constant stream of live-action TV shows. The latest, Obi-Wan Kenobi, has brought back both Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen - and it's already broken records for Disney+, with the House of Mouse confirming the premiere became the most-watched first episode on their streaming service to date.
Unfortunately, there's also been something of a backlash to Moses Ingram's character, Reva, an Inquisitor working for Darth Vader who's hunting for Obi-Wan. The actress took to social media to discuss some of the racist comments she's received, and discussing the impact they've had on her. Lucasfilm used the official Star Wars Twitter to her; "There are more than 20 million sentient species in the Star Wars galaxy, don’t choose to be a racist," they tweeted. McGregor, too, spoke out after hearing some of the racist DMs Ingram has received, and expressed his disappointment. "If you're sending her racist messages, you're no Star Wars fan in my mind," he insisted. "I totally stand with Moses."
It's heartbreaking to see the online debate about Star Wars pivot to once again focus on the toxicity of some elements of the fandom. This is particularly disappointing given it is less than a week after Star Wars Celebration 2022, three episodes into one of the most anticipated Star Wars TV shows of all time. What is pleasing, though, is that this time Lucasfilm is responding forcefully.
Star Wars Fandom Has Always Been Divided
Star Wars fandom has always been divided. Even George Lucas himself learned how ionate the fans can be when he released the Special Editions, daring to make changes to films that had been part of so many childhoods. "On the internet, all those same guys that are complaining I made a change are completely changing the movie," Lucas complained in an interview with Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Lucas' argument points to a major underlying issue in the Star Wars fanbase; because fans are deeply invested in the franchise, they feel a deep sense of ownership. Ironically, this is a major reason the franchise has flourished in the first place - especially as a transmedia franchise that encourages viewers to immerse themselves in the story, to draw narrative connections between disparate elements, and to question and interpret everything they read. There's a sense in which Disney's acquisition of Star Wars back in 2012 guaranteed these issues would increase, because they made the controversial decision to brand the old Expanded Universe non-canon (or "Legends") - an act that reminded everyone who really owns the galaxy.
Star Wars Fandom Has A History Of Racism & Sexism
Star Wars hasn't always handled issues of race with the appropriate sensitivity - the Ming Po, a minor race in Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson was furious at Tran's treatment, particularly calling out the "disingenuous bulls***" by which some justified their actions - claiming they were actually just objecting to the film's quality or the actress' performance, and thus avoiding acknowledging the racist comments that were being made.
In cases like this, it is likely the issue of ownership runs rather deeper. This minority of vocal trolls rightly intuit that Star Wars is no longer aimed squarely at them, and recognize the presence of characters who do not look like them as an indication the franchise is trying to reach a far wider base. The racist backlash is, therefore, an attempt to hold Star Wars back - to conform the entire franchise to their image of it. There is surely a sense of irony in that it is exactly the kind of approach Emperor Palpatine would himself approve of.
Can Star Wars Confront Its Toxic Fandom?
This, then, is the context to the racist backlash over Moses Ingram's character Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker; she appeared in just 76 seconds of the film. But Ingram certainly has the firm of Lucasfilm, suggesting the company has decided to make a stand at last. Statements made on social media have clearly been an attempt to shame these toxic fans, and to call the wider fanbase to unite against them.
Return of the Jedi when discussing what is and is not canon; that "many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view." Fans are now being encouraged to deploy what's sometimes called "head canon" to reconcile continuity problems or even to incorporate their favored Legends stories into the timeline. It's a smart approach, de-weaponizing the canon debate.
Star Wars is not unique in having a divided, sometimes toxic fanbase; it is simply particularly notable due to its scale. The sad truth is that there will always be a minority of toxic fans, including those who are racist. Lucasfilm is no longer pandering to them, but is instead attempting to confront them head-on. It's a far better approach, one that means actors like Moses Ingram can at least know Star Wars has their backs.
