Photo Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm
Does Star Wars have a sexist problem among its fans with female characters? J.J. Abrams, who directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens believes that people who have a problem with Star Wars: The Last Jedi only do so because they take issue with the focus being on strong female characters.
The Last Jedi, directed by Rian Johnson, was praised by critics, but a certain subsection of audiences had some criticisms with the film which saw the return Daisy Ridley’s Rey and Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia as well as the addition of Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico and Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Holdo.
Abrams is preparing himself for a return to Stars Wars as he is directing Episode IX. However, he took time to discuss the previous film. “Their problem isn’t Star Wars, their problem is being threatened,” Abrams told IndieWire about those blasting the franchise for focusing on female characters.
The Last Jedis’ audience score on Rotten Tomatoes dipped to 48 percent, which may have been the work of an alt-right group. One user called it “politically correct to the point of boredom,” while another said “feminism and diversity” have “ruined Star Wars for me as well as my kids.”
Abrams doubled down on his comments about those fans taking issue with female characters.
“Star Wars is a big galaxy, and you can sort of find almost anything you want to in Star Wars. If you are someone who feels threatened by women and needs to lash out against them, you can probably find an enemy in Star Wars,” Abrams said. “You can probably look at the first movie that George [Lucas] did and say that Leia was too outspoken, or she was too tough. Anyone who wants to find a problem with anything can find the problem. The internet seems to be made for that.”
Here are some reactions on social media to Abrams’ comments about sexism in Star Wars.
Jesus, what a dick. They’ve learned absolutely nothing. They zero in on the SJW comments and utterly ignore all of the other complaints about #TheLastJedi and their Mary Sue. Episode IX will open lower than any Star Wars film to date.https://t.co/IkVzTHDGZu
— DweebHowlingIntoTheVoid (@GTS518) February 17, 2018
Star Wars fans yesterday: “JJ Abrams will save us from The Last Jedi! He’s our only hope!”
Star Wars fans after that Indiewire interview with JJ today: pic.twitter.com/K5VT1YYTGr
— Jeremy Conrad (@ManaByte) February 17, 2018
Anyone who thinks @jjabrams will save #StarWars from itself or fix #thelastjediawful mess, think again. 😂
Apparently, if you didn’t like #TheLastJedi , you are threatened by women and need to lash against them. Yeah. Right.https://t.co/CpiWv2cNWc
— Michael Yarichuk (@Myarichuk) February 17, 2018
J.J. Abrams if Star Wars fans are threaten by women in #StarWars than why did we spend $936 Million domestically and $2 Billion globally on Force Awakens you’re FULL OF SHIT.#lastjediawful #TheLastJedi#thelastjediawful #SoloAStarWarsStory #TheLastJedi https://t.co/Bx6x67AX6P
— RedShadow113 (@RedShadow113) February 17, 2018
The Last Jedi was written and directed by Johnson and continued the storylines introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, welcoming back cast members Mark Hamill, Fisher, Adam Driver, Ridley, John Boyega, Lupita Nyong’o, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis. New cast members include Benicio Del Toro, Dern, and Tran.
The untitled Star Wars: Episode IX is scheduled to hit theaters on Dec. 20, 2019. But first, Lucasfilm will release Solo: A Star Wars Story this May 25.
Do you agree with Abrams that some Star Wars are threatened by strong women in the franchise? If not, who is your favorite female character from Star Wars? Let us know in the comments section.