The official Star Wars Twitter account has defended Obi-Wan Kenobi star Moses Ingram after the actor received racist backlash on social media. Set between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the latest Disney+ series set in a galaxy far, far away sees Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) living in secret on Tatooine, keeping a watchful eye on young Luke Skywalker while avoiding the tyrannical Galactic Empire. Joining McGregor is Hayden Christensen returning as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, as well as Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse and Jimmy Smits, reprising their Sith roles. Along with these familiar faces are newcomers Moses Ingram, Rupert Friend, Sung Kang, and Rya Kihlstedt as the fearsome Imperial Inquisitors on the hunt for Kenobi. With Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 1 and 2 now streaming, the series has largely been met with critical acclaim so far.
However, Obi-Wan Kenobi has also been subjected to some racism-fuelled backlash online for its casting of Ingram as Reva Sevander/Third Sister. Such complaints typically accuse the series of merely hiring Ingram as a 'diversity box-ticking' exercise, rather than for her capabilities as an actor. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time that Star Wars cast members have been subjected to racist comments from those who claim to be fans of the franchise. Kelly Marie Tran also received online abuse for her role as Rose Tico in The Last Jedi, as did John Boyega for his casting as lead character Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
Now, Lucasfilm and Disney have now come out in full support of Ingram in the wake of this backlash. In a statement issued on the official Star Wars Twitter account, the studios announced that it "are proud to welcome Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family," and "resist" anyone who attempts to make her feel otherwise. The Star Wars account also specifically called out racist comments made online, saying, "There are more than 20 million sentient species in the Star Wars galaxy, don't choose to be a racist." See the full post below:
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Sadly, Ingram previously revealed that Lucasfilm warned her about racist comments she might receive from Star Wars viewers as a result of her Obi-Wan Kenobi casting. However, the actor said the studio made it clear that it would support her should any hateful backlash arise. With this latest statement, the company has kept its promise and defended the actor against online abuse, which Ingram had also previously addressed by saying she has "no problem with the block button." Additionally, Lucasfilm's follow-up comment requesting that fans not "choose to be a racist" calls out the specific comments that have formed this backlash, addressing the issue head on rather than remaining ambiguous about the nature of the online hatred.
While it is difficult to know whether Lucasfilm's message will be taken to heart by offenders of this online abuse against Ingram, many members of the Star Wars fanbase have praised Star Wars for its statement and unflinching defense of the actor. As more Obi-Wan Kenobi episodes are set to hit Disney+, it is somewhat reassuring to know that Lucasfilm and Disney will continue to defend Ingram in the wake of hateful comments. However, it is nonetheless saddening to see that Ingram is experiencing unwarranted online abuse and backlash. That said, it is important to note that the actor has countless viewers all over the world in her corner, who have praised Reva as one of the Star Wars live-action universe's most exciting new additions.
Source: Star Wars