An unfortunate reality is that a great number ofStar Warsactors and actresses have suffered some truly reprehensible personal attacks by “fans” over the years simply for existing in the franchise, most recently Moses Ingram. Often, they’re bullied and degraded to the point where they have no choice but to back away from the public eye for their own safety and mental health. In John Boyega’s case, he fought back and used the vitriol as a jumping-off point for activism.
Boyega, who played Finn in theStar Warssequel trilogy, has been outspoken about his treatment by both fans and the studio. So it should come as no surprise that he’d have a few thoughts about the racist attacks from unfoundedly angry viewers leveled atObi-Wan Kenobiactress Ingram. Boyega recently spoke out about the issue (and others) onSiriusXM’sTell Me EverythingWith John Fugelsang, giving a surprisingly charitable appraisal of the situation, and it has a lot to do with how Disney has handled it all.
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“Moses Ingram being protected makes me feel protected. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Boyega said. “It makes me feel like, ‘Okay, cool. I am not the elephant in the room.’ Because when I started, it wasn’t really a conversation you could bring up. You know how they went through it. It was kind of like, ‘Let’s just be silent.’ It wasn’t a conversation you could bring up. But now to see how blatant it is, to see Ewan McGregor come and support…It, for me, fulfills my time where I didn’t get the support.” ConsideringBoyega’s outspoken discussions about race inStar Wars, as well as how important they were to have, it’s certainly an interesting development on his part.
“It doesn’t make me feel bitter at all,” he continued when asked about his feelings onIngram receiving protectionshe didn’t get. “It makes me feel like sometimes you are that guy. And my dad taught me that. Sometimes you’re not the guy to get the blessing and sometimes you are Moses, you know, you lead the people to the mountain, but you see the destination. You don’t get to go in, you get others to go in. And that’s where you get your happiness from. And for me to see other people accepted, and then at the same time to see that the studios now are like, ‘Okay, cool. This is not an elephant-in-the-room conversation. We need to support our Black client.’ It’s fantastic.” The Moses metaphor seems particularly appropriate.
Some fans might not be happy to hear what he said next, however. When asked whether he’d be willing to return asFinn in futureStar Warsprojects, Boyega appeared pretty clear on his stance. “I think Finn is at a good confirmation point where you can just enjoy him in other things, the games, the animation,” he said. “But I feel like [Episode] VII to [Episode] IX was good for me.”
If anyone deserves a peaceful exit fromStar Wars, it’s Boyega. He was the target of racist attacks by bafflingly disgruntled fans all the way from thefirst trailer forThe Force Awakens, so he’s definitely dealt with more than enough. Here’s hoping his career stays as successful as it’s been, and then some.
