Last week, one of the “Star Wars” galaxy’s most beloved characters made his return when “Obi-Wan Kenobi” premiered on Disney+. And Ewan McGregor back onscreen as the Jedi master should be the most newsworthy item from the show’s first two episodes. But instead, racist messages sent to series star Moses Ingram took centerstage over Memorial Day weekend, including threats that her days were “numbered” and calling her a “diversity hire” for the “Star Wars” universe. Not exactly the kind of press Disney wants swirling around their latest “Star Wars” release.
In response, McGregor took to the official “Star Wars” social media page yesterday to address the racist attacks. “It seems that some of the fan base has decided to attack Moses Ingram online and send her the most horrendous, racist ,” McGregor said in a personal message on Twitter. “I heard some of them this morning and it just broke my heart. “Moses is a brilliant actor, she’s a brilliant woman, and she’s absolutely amazing in this series…I just want to say as the leading actor in the series, as the executive producer on the series, that we stand with Moses.”
McGregor continued, “We love Moses, and if you’re sending her bullying messages, you’re no ‘Star Wars’ fan in my mind. There’s no place for racism in this world.” The backlash against Ingram is the latest in a pattern of similar racist incidents against other “Star Wars” stars, including John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran.
Ingram, who plays Inquisitor Reva Sevander in “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” previously told The Independent that Lucasfilm “actually got in front” of the anticipated racism after they cast her in the role. Ingram said that casting executives told her, “‘This is a thing that, unfortunately, likely will happen. But we are here to help you; you can let us know when it happens.” So, unfortunately, this is something Disney and Lucasfilm expect now for upcoming “Star Wars” projects.
READ MORE: ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’: Lucasfilm Warned Actress Moses Ingram About Racist Backlash Online
Ingram uploaded a video onto Instagram addressing the racist remarks before McGregor posted his on Twitter. “Long story short, there are hundreds of those [messages]. Hundreds,” Ingram said in the video. “And I also see those of you out there who put on a cape for me and that really does mean the world to me because, you know, there’s nothing anybody can do about this. There’s nothing anybody can do to stop this hate. And so I question my purposes even being here in front of you saying that this is happening.”
The official “Star Wars” page also issued a statement about the backlash: “We are proud to welcome Moses Ingram to the ‘Star Wars’ family and excited for Reva’s story to unfold. If anyone intends to make her feel in any way unwelcome, we have only one thing to say: we resist.” The page added, “There are more than 20 million sentient species in the Star Wars galaxy, don’t choose to be a racist.”
Kudos to McGregor, Ingram, and the official “Star Wars” page for their messages in their demonstration that “Star Wars” has no place for racism. Unfortunately, social media being the toxic cesspool it is, it’s unclear what kind of impact their response to this situation will have. With “Andor,” “Ahsoka,” and plenty of other “Star Wars” shows on the way to Disney+ in the next couple of years, this may be a problem other “Star Wars” actors deal with in the future. After all, we don’t live in a galaxy far, far away with more than 20 million sentient species; we live in this intolerant, hate-filled one where racist derision still exists.