After Star Wars: The Last Jedi star Kelly Marie Tran deleted all of her Instagram posts without warning, a dialogue about harassment in the Star Wars fandom ignited. Now fellow Star Wars actor John Boyega has stepped into the conversation, and addressed the harassment.
According to Teen Vogue, Boyega took to Twitter on Tuesday to defend his Star Wars co-star and to denounce fan harassment. The Star Wars star reprimanded fans for sending hateful messages to the actors, and reminded them that these mean messages won’t do anything to influence Star Wars’ storyline or casting.
“If you don’t like Star Wars or the characters understand that there are decisions makers and harassing the actors/ actresses will do nothing. You’re not entitled to politeness when your approach is rude. Even if you paid for a ticket!” Boyega tweeted.
If you don’t like Star Wars or the characters understand that there are decisions makers and harassing the actors/ actresses will do nothing. You’re not entitled to politeness when your approach is rude. Even if you paid for a ticket! ??♂️
— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) June 12, 2018
In another tweet, Boyega thanked the majority of Star Wars fans for being supportive rather than vindictive.
“To the majority of Star Wars fans thank you for supporting and putting yourselves in our shoes. You understand that there is a process so much appreciated !” Boyega wrote.
To the majority of Star Wars fans thank you for supporting and putting yourselves in our shoes. You understand that there is a process so much appreciated !
— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) June 12, 2018
One Twitter user even joked that Boyega “next, John will be telling us that actors don’t write their own dialogue,” to which Boyega responded, “???? or that [Star Wars] is in fact a documentary and I am actually a stormtrooper.”
???? or that sw is in fact a documentary and I am actually a stormtrooper. https://t.co/GJ8yp5FGtU
— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) June 12, 2018
According to Vanity Fair, Tran has not specifically said why she left Instagram, but it is reported that Tran left the social media platform due to racist and misogynistic messages from fans who disliked her Star Wars: The Last Jedi character, Rose Tico.
Tran’s co-star, Daisy Ridley, had deleted and deactivated her Instagram account in 2016 after receiving backlash for posting a message in support of gun control, Teen Vogue reports.
Mark Hamill, Mr. Luke Skywalker himself, was quick to show support for Tran on social media soon after she left Instagram, Vanity Fair reports.
Hamill shared a photo of himself and Tran, along with the caption: “What’s not to love? #GetALifeNerds.”
What’s not to love?#GetALifeNerds pic.twitter.com/k1sa0X1qpg
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) June 6, 2018
It’s never right to harass actors and actresses on social media, or in real life. And we agree with Mark Hamill — what’s not to love about Kelly Marie Tran?