Star Wars co-stars support Moses Ingram after racist comments

The Star Wars film franchise, its cast and fans speak out for actress Moses Ingram, who said she has been hit with a spate of racial abuse online for her role in the new “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series.

When Ingram made her debut as Reva Sevander – one of Darth Vader’s Inquisitors tasked with hunting Jedi – On Friday’s highly anticipated Disney Plus show, the star described a barrage of threats and racist messages on Instagram. One said that her “days are numbered”. Another branded them “diversity hire”. Other messages used the n-word.

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Ewan McGregor was the latest co-star to express his support, saying he was “disgusted” by the way Ingram was treated and slammed the news as “terrible”. He called Ingram – who also starred in The Queen’s Gambit, one of the highest-rated Netflix programs of all time – a “brilliant actor.”

“I just want to say as a lead actor on the show, as an executive producer on the show, we stand by Moses,” he said in a video posted to the Star Wars Twitter account, which has since been viewed more than 5 million times times.

“We love Moses, and if you’re sending her bullying messages, I don’t think you’re a Star Wars fan,” he said.

McGregor’s support came after the Star Wars franchise addressed those harassing the star. “We are proud to welcome Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family,” the franchise tweeted Tuesday, adding that producers were “excited for Reva’s story to unfold.”

“If anyone intends to make her feel unwelcome, all we can say is we fight back.” read the tweet.

There are over 20 million sentient species in the Star Wars galaxy, don’t choose to be a racist.

– Star Wars (@starwars) May 31, 2022

Ingram detailed the abuse on her Instagram Stories last week, saying she felt “there’s nothing anyone can do to stop this hate” and that the comments fueled self-doubt. “I question my purpose for even being here in front of you and saying this is happening,” she said in the video, which is no longer viewable as Instagram stories expire after 24 hours.

“I think what bothers me is this feeling I had inside – which nobody told me – but this feeling like I just have to shut up and take it. I just have to grin and endure that. And I’m not built like that,” Ingram said as she thanked her fans for their support.

On social media, many used the hashtag #WeLoveYouMosesIngram to share their admiration for the 29-year-old they called “talented” and “a symbol.”

Star Wars, which has long grappled with issues of race and gender, has pledged to increase the diversity of its cast amid backlash.

Black British actors John Boyega and Thandiwe Newton, and Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o have all entered the Star Wars universe in recent years. Kelly Marie Tran, who became the first Asian-American actress to land a major Star Wars role, said she too was targeted by social media trolls and deleted all of her Instagram posts in 2018 – leading to speculation that the abuse, that she was exposed to online was a catalyst.

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Speaking about the move in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last year, Tran said she decided the internet was “not good for my mental health.” I’ll leave that of course.’”

And Boyega, who told GQ magazine he had faced death threats during his time as former stormtrooper Finn, delivered an impassioned speech to thousands at a huge Black Lives Matter protest in London’s Hyde Park in 2020 after the death of George Floyd.

“I want you to understand how painful it is to be reminded every day that your race doesn’t mean anything,” the actor said, before telling those around him, “I don’t know if I’ll have a career after that.” will.”