Star Wars star John Boyega addressed Lucasfilm's defense of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Moses Ingram against online racist abuse. Boyega, who first rose to public attention in the 2011 sci-fi comedy Attack the Block, was announced as part of the cast of The Force Awakens in 2014. Boyega, who played the former First Order Stormtrooper FN-2187 or Finn, would also go on to return for the other two films in the sequel trilogy The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. In 2020, Boyega would later go on to voice his frustrations with Disney and Lucasfilm for sidelining his character, and for their treatment of actors of color.
Ingram, who plays the Inquisitor Reva Sevander (also known as the Third Sister) in Obi-Wan Kenbobi, was sadly the latest Star Wars actor to experience the vitriol espoused by some members of the Star Wars fandom. Following the series premiere on Disney+, Ingram became the target of racially charged abuse, forcing Disney and Lucasfilm to issue their own official statements condemning the behavior. Ingram’s co-star Ewan McGregor also issued his own video statement on the matter, calling out those who had sent Ingram racist and offensives messages.
Most recently, Boyega, who is no stranger to the kinds of abuse Ingram encountered, spoke with Men’s Health (via Star Wars News Net) about how the actress was defended by Lucasfilm and even forewarned about the abuse she may face. Saying that he himself was the actor who brought this issue to “[the] forefront” after his The Force Awakens casting, Boyega said he was glad Lucasfilm heeded his feedback and used those lessons to help protect their current line-up of stars. Check out his full comments below:
"I’m the one that brought this to the freaking forefront! … At least the people going into it now, after my time, [they’re] cool. [Lucasfilm] is going to make sure you’re well supported and at least you [now] go through this franchise knowing that everybody is going to have [your] back. I’m glad I talked out everything at that time."
It is unfortunate that Ingram, or any actor of color who works on Star Wars, is forced to deal with the sorts of deplorable behaviour repeatedly demonstrated by what is ultimately a small minority of supposed fans. While the majority of the Star Wars fandom are welcoming of actors’ efforts, it is a small positive step forward for Lucasfilm to actively seek to protect and defend their actors from such unwarranted and unacceptable abuse. As Boyega alludes to, it is certainly a lesson that he, The Last Jedi's Kelly Marie Tran and Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best likely would have appreciated the studio learning much earlier.
Hopefully, one day, the need for Lucasfilm to actively forewarn and defend their actors from online racist abuse will pass. Sadly, it is still seemingly a necessity for now, given the reality of social media and its role in contemporary society. Perhaps with studios beginning to take an active role in denouncing such behavior, the impacts will begin to lessen to some small degree. At least future Star Wars actors can take some comfort in knowing that the studio will support them much as they have done for their Obi-Wan Kenobi star Moses Ingram.
Source: Men’s Health (via Star Wars News Net)