Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy opened up about the sexism that has occurred in the Star Wars fandom for the past several years.
Since Disney brought the Star Wars franchise back into the mainstream fold, we've witnessed sexism, misogyny, and racist comments from some fans against female and minority characters.
It is still a recurring issue up to this day with the release of The Acolyte as some fans have also accused it of being "woke" due to the diverse characters that are leading the ensemble.
Also Read: The Acolyte Showrunner Reveals How Many Seasons She's Planning for the Series
Kathleen Kennedy Addresses the Toxic Fandom in Star Wars
In a recent interview, Kennedy opened up about the sexism from Star Wars fans against the female characters in the franchise.
"My belief is that storytelling does need to be representative of all people. That’s an easy decision for me. Operating within these giant franchises now, with social media and the level of expectation — it’s terrifying," she said.
"I think Leslye [Headland, The Acolyte showrunner,] has struggled a little bit with it. I think a lot of the women who step into Star Wars struggle with this a bit more. Because of the fan base being so male dominated, they sometimes get attacked in ways that can be quite personal."
Headland also weighed in on the issue. While she understood some of the complaints, she is also rallying against the sexist remarks and hate speech.
"As a fan myself, I know how frustrating some Star Wars storytelling in the past has been. I’ve felt it myself. I stand by my empathy for Star Wars fans. But I want to be clear. Anyone who engages in bigotry, racism or hate speech... I don’t consider a fan," she said.
It is unfortunate to see the hate speech that some of the Star Wars fans have made against female and minority characters, especially since it gets too personal and aggressive as Kennedy stated in her remarks.
In the end, there is no solution to stop the issue as the fans on that side will remain vocal about what they think of the current state of the franchise and its diverse characters since there are platforms that give them an opportunity to do so.
Despite all of that, Lucasfilm is still continuing to strive for diversity and inclusivity in their projects. After all, the galaxy far, far away has always been a place for all species regardless of shapes, sizes, and colors.
Read Next: 5 Things We Want To See In Star Wars: The Acolyte
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