'Star Wars' boss calls out 'male dominated' fan base's 'personal' attacks on women stars

The head of "Star Wars" is calling out sexism within the franchise's fan community.

In an interview with The New York Times, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said that many women who work in "Star Wars" struggle with facing "personal" attacks from the series' male fans.

"I think a lot of the women who step into 'Star Wars' struggle with this a bit more," the producer said. "Because of the fan base being so male dominated, they sometimes get attacked in ways that can be quite personal."

Kennedy raised this point while discussing the upcoming Disney+ show "The Acolyte," the first "Star Wars" series created by a woman, Leslye Headland. Kennedy said it's "terrifying" to operate "within these giant franchises now, with social media and the level of expectation," and Headland has "struggled a little bit with it."

For her part, Headland told the Times she tries not to pay too much attention to the conversation surrounding her show, which has already faced some online negativity for its diverse cast. Amandla Stenberg stars in the series, a prequel that takes place before "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace."

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Although Headland told the Times she understands "how frustrating some 'Star Wars' storytelling in the past has been," she called out those fans who engage in hate speech. "I want to be clear," she said. "Anyone who engages in bigotry, racism or hate speech … I don't consider a fan."

Kennedy also told the Times, "My belief is that storytelling does need to be representative of all people. That's an easy decision for me."

Moses Ingram, Kelly Marie Tran faced harassment after 'Star Wars' roles

In recent years, numerous "Star Wars" actresses have faced online abuse after appearing in the franchise, several of whom are people of color.

In 2022, Moses Ingram received racist comments and direct messages when she starred in the Disney+ "Star Wars" series "Obi-Wan Kenobi," leading the show's lead, Ewan McGregor, to come to her defense.

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"We love Moses," he said at the time in a message shared on the official "Star Wars" X account. "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."

Kelly Marie Tran, who played Rose Tico in "The Last Jedi" and "The Rise of Skywalker," also left social media after facing harassment online.

"It wasn't their words, it's that I started to believe them," Tran wrote in an essay for The New York Times in 2018. "Their words seemed to confirm what growing up as a woman and a person of color already taught me: that I belonged in margins and spaces, valid only as a minor character in their lives and stories."

Daisy Ridley similarly left social media in 2016 after debuting as Rey in 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." She has since returned to Instagram.

Ridley is once again returning as Rey in an upcoming untitled "Star Wars" film, which is to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. It will be the first "Star Wars" film helmed by a woman.

"We're in 2024 now, and it's about time we had a woman come forward to shape the story in a galaxy far, far away," Obaid-Chinoy told CNN.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Star Wars' women stars face sexism from fans, Kathleen Kennedy says