Twitter trolls are very upset that the lead character of Star Wars: Episode VII is John Boyega who happens to be a black man.
When the first trailer for JJ Abraham’s Star Wars dropped back in December 2014, Boyega was quickly dismissed as “the black stormtrooper.” The 23 year old actor will actually be playing a Jedi Knight and racist Star Wars fans are not happy:
#BoycottStarWarsVII because it is anti-white propaganda promoting #whitegenocide.
— End Cultural Marxism (@genophilia) October 19, 2015
#BoycottStarWarsVII because JJ Abram’s political correctness is a code word for anti-white. — End Cultural Marxism (@genophilia) October 19, 2015
#BoycottStarWarsVII If white people aren’t wanted in Star Wars, then our money must not be either.
— Critical Spooking (@officialCritDis) October 19, 2015
Earlier in the year Star Wars director Abrahms spoke with the By The Way, In Conversation with Jeff Garlin podcast explaining why racial diversity is important in the Star Wars universe:
“We wrote these characters but when we went to cast it, one of the things I had felt, having been to the Emmy’s a couple times — you look around that room and you see the whitest fucking room in the history of time. Its just unbelievably white,” he said. “And I just thought, we’re casting this show and we have an opportunity to do anything we want, why not cast the show with actors of color?”
The hashtag has since been taken over by people who think the boycott is ridiculous:
Ok #BoycottStarWarsVII people; this is going to melt your brain, but you need to know…James Earl Jones voiced Vader & Lando is black. — Jeremy Jahns (@JeremyJahns) October 19, 2015
George Lucas and his stunning wife Mellody Hobson guffawing at these #BoycottStarWarsVII fools pic.twitter.com/EVWy3ZFCZT — Pia Glenn (@PiaGlenn) October 19, 2015
I support #BoycottStarWarsVII. If you want to stay home because the leads are black and female, I want you to stay home, too.
— Dungeonn Cannibal (@GeonnCannon) October 19, 2015
You see, this is why we need diversity in the media. Because it pisses off the right people. Like the guy who started #BoycottStarWarsVII
— Klye Klgleran (@KyleKallgren) October 19, 2015
I hate to burst your bubble #BoycottStarWarsVII but uh pic.twitter.com/fLEr3PefEZ
— Skeleserf (@MCSerf) October 19, 2015
may the trolls be with you. #BoycottStarWarsVII
— todd sampson (@toddsampsonOz) October 19, 2015
As reported in B&T yesterday, the poster for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was revealed.