The Acolyte’s Jodie Turner-Smith Blasts Disney For Failing To Protect Stars From Toxic Abuse

The Acolyte's Jodie Turner-Smith Blasts Disney For Failing To Protect Stars From Toxic Abuse

As a longtime movie enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of many beloved franchises, I can’t help but feel a pang of empathy towards Jodie Turner-Smith and her colleagues who have faced the harsh realities of online racism while contributing to the Star Wars universe.


One of the prominent figures from the recently terminated Star Wars series is now criticizing Disney for not safeguarding the actors and the broader franchise from a troubling segment of fans. It’s regrettably common with franchises like Star Wars that when actors of color, such as John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, or Amandla Stenberg, join this distant galaxy, they are frequently subjected to racist abuse online. Regrettably, Disney has also failed to address this issue. In a recent conversation with Glamour, Turner-Smith has spoken out, urging the studio to “stop remaining silent about this matter.

“They’ve got to stop doing this thing where they don’t say anything when people are getting fucking dog-piled on the internet with racism and bullshit. It’s just not fair to not say anything. It’s really unfair.”

Turner-Smith, who has experienced racism throughout her career and has had her husband, Joshua Jackson, step in to defend her, thinks it’s now crucial for Disney and other major studios to take a strong stance against such toxicity. She also feels that this could not only be the right thing to do morally but could also bring business advantages to them.

“It would just be nice if the people that have all the money” – whether that be Disney or any studio – “were showing their support and putting their feet down. Say this is unacceptable: ‘You’re not a fan if you do this.’ Make a really big statement and just see if any money leaves. I bet you it won’t, because people of colour, and especially Black people, make up a very large percentage of buying power. They might find that it’s actually more lucrative for them, but everyone’s using ‘woke’ like it’s a dirty word.”

The Acolyte Faced ‘Review Bombing’ Throughout Its Run

The Acolyte's Jodie Turner-Smith Blasts Disney For Failing To Protect Stars From Toxic AbuseThe Acolyte's Jodie Turner-Smith Blasts Disney For Failing To Protect Stars From Toxic AbuseThe Acolyte's Jodie Turner-Smith Blasts Disney For Failing To Protect Stars From Toxic AbuseThe Acolyte's Jodie Turner-Smith Blasts Disney For Failing To Protect Stars From Toxic AbuseThe Acolyte's Jodie Turner-Smith Blasts Disney For Failing To Protect Stars From Toxic Abuse

Back in August, “The Acolyte” was terminated, and Disney explained that it had low viewership numbers and an extensive budget as the main factors behind this decision. However, the show faced a malicious review bombing campaign. Although there are certainly viewers with valid reasons to dislike the series, the diverse cast endured a flood of racially charged abuse online.

In response to the cancellation, lead actress Amandla Stenberg voiced her concerns, highlighting the abusive behavior and the excessive conservatism, bigotry, and hate speech that the cast faced during the series.

Indeed, I reside within my personal world of experiences, but let me clarify for those who might be unaware, a wave of harsh criticism has swept over us since the idea of this project was first proposed. Before the show even premiered, we encountered an onslaught of what I can only describe as extreme conservative prejudice, vitriol, and hateful language. This was particularly impactful when I first joined the team, as I hadn’t fully grasped the intensity of such reactions until I experienced them myself.

Regrettably, as long as Disney doesn’t prioritize using their wealth and influence to safeguard the actors in their productions, such issues may persist. Here’s to hoping they eventually prioritize people over profits and take heed of voices like Jodie Turner-Smith’s concerns.

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2024-10-07 14:03