John Boyega condemns racism in Star Wars franchise
- John Boyega has openly criticized racist fans after facing abuse when he was cast in Star Wars.
- He described the franchise as historically lacking diversity and recounted the backlash against his and his co-stars' inclusion.
- Boyega concludes by emphasizing that audiences often resist Black actors in leading roles while accepting them in supporting ones.
In the documentary 'Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood,' released recently, John Boyega discussed the racial dynamics in the Star Wars franchise that he joined in 2015. Boyega, who portrayed Finn, highlighted the extensive racist abuse he faced, along with his co-stars Daisy Ridley and Kelly Marie Tran, particularly noting that they experienced severe backlash due to the series' attempts at inclusive casting. Boyega stated that the franchise historically appears to be 'so White' that having a Black character was met with resistance and outrage from a portion of its fanbase. He emphasized that, while there had been a few Black characters, such as Lando Calrissian and Mace Windu, these examples were often used to dismiss arguments for greater diversity. Boyega argued that the fans were comfortable with Black actors in supporting roles, but not in leading positions. He referred to the long-standing pattern where audiences accepted the presence of Black characters only when they were relegated to lesser roles, highlighting a deeper issue of acceptance in mainstream media.