First , there was Pepsi Co, closely followed by Starbucks, Chobani and Kellogg’s. Then came the Broadway hit Hamilton. And now? Star Wars.
In the wake of widely watched trailers for the upcoming Star Wars: Rogue One, white supremacists have taken toTwitter to voice their ire with what they regard as an “anti-white” and “anti-Trump” conspiracy.
Rallying under the hashtag #DumpStarWars. they are now calling for a boycott of the entire franchise and the film’s scriptwriter, Chris Weitz.
The vigilantes are very upset at the film supposed “anti-white agenda.”
Back in November, Rogue One writer Chris Weitz and several other writers from Star Wars had condemned what they called the racist, misogynistic and anti-Semitic rhetoric that spread online during the presidential campaign.
“Please note that the Empire is a white supremacist (human organization),” Weitz tweeted at the time, to which his co-writer Gary Whitta replied, “Opposed by a multi-cultural group led by brave women.”
Both then subsequently changed their Twitter avatars to the below Rebel insignia flanked by one of these ubiquitous safety pins — meant to signal solidarity with minorities and members of the the LGBT community.
Star Wars against hate. Spread it. pic.twitter.com/Dtf5uqpxba
— Chris Weitz (@chrisweitz) November 11, 2016
But this open stance against white supremacy, coupled with the diversity of the cast (several non-white characters and, several women in the “good guy” Rebel force) became too much to handle for alt-righters, who sought refuge on Reddit and InfoStormer.com where they hailed Darth Vader and the evil Empire against the “Jewish cabal” trying to put an end to “white civilization.”
Stop using your multiculturalism anti-American agenda in a science fiction Disney movie. We just want to enjoy a fun movie. #DumpStarWars
— Baked Alaska™ (@bakedalaska) December 8, 2016
Two Feminist propaganda Star Wars movies in a row, and Mark Hamill says Luke Skywalker may be gay. Time to #DumpStarWars
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) December 9, 2016
“Nearly all of the major characters are non-Whites and the main character is an empowered White female,” one post on InforStormer suggested. “This film should be boycotted.”
Hollywood and Disney stop politicizing movies. Why alienate Trump supporters? We won't watch this Anti Trump propaganda. #DumpStarWars
— Irma (@irmahinojosa_) December 9, 2016
@starwars Rogue One is an anti-Trump propaganda film. BOYCOTT!!! Trump supporters! #DumpDisney #DumpStarWars #MakeStarWarsNonPoliticalAgain
— AmericaFirst16 (@AmericaFirst16) December 8, 2016
But Star Wars fan quickly re-appropriated the hashtag to mock the boycotters and their need or a “safe space”. One user wrote: “White Supremacists just need their safe space. Away from art, theater, film and cereal.”
Woman: *appears in a film*
Fragile dudes: "PROPAGANDA!!!"#dumpstarwars #rogueone pic.twitter.com/G0M5b2FpZB— TakeDownMRAs (@TakedownMRAs) December 9, 2016
Trump supporter: Hey Hollywood, stay out of politics!
*votes for a reality TV star*
#DumpStarWars pic.twitter.com/ucApmLJJ7O
— Abraham Cavazos (@abraham_cavazos) December 9, 2016
Election day: "haha, liberals overreacting cos they lost!"
Sees Star Wars: "ANTI-TRUMP PROPAGANDA!!! BOYCOTT IT!!"#DumpStarWars— DayGlow_DavBow (@DeusExMackia) December 9, 2016
It seemingly didn’t occur to these white supremacist that Star Wars is a fictional movie, featuring fictional characters in a fictional galaxy. Nevermind.
For everyone else, the inclusive tale of a galaxy far, far away, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will hit theaters on December 16.
