Queer fans of Star Wars are in uproar following the cancellation of The Acolyte.
According to Deadline, Lukasfilm have opted to not move forward with a second season after the series received middling reviews from a select group of fans and lower-than-expected viewership.
Set before the events of the Skywalker Saga at the end of the High Republic era, The Acolyte follows a former Padawan (Amandla Stenberg) who reunites with her Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) to investigate a series of mysterious crimes.
It boasted an ensemble cast, with supporting stars such as Charlie Barnett, Dafne Keen, Rebecca Henderson, Jodie Turner-Smith, Carrie-Anne Moss, Manny Jacinto, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, Margarita Levieva, Harry Trevaldywn and David Harewood.
Upon release, The Acolyte was review-bombed on websites such as Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic and IMDB by whiny weasels who took issue with Star Wars going “woke”.
And by “woke”, we mean the series championing female characters, people of colour and LGBTQIA+ stories, such as Osha and Mae (Stenberg) having two mothers and the queer-coded relationship between Mae and Jecki (Keen).
Keen and Stenberg as Jecki and Osha
Sadly, trolls also took issue with the various queer cast members (Stenberg, Barnett, Henderson, Trevaldywn) and Leslye Headland, who is openly lesbian, making history as the first-ever female director of a Star Wars series. (She is married to Henderson, who plays Vernestra Rwoh.)
Following news of The Acolyte’s cancellation, queer viewers took to social media to mourn and criticise those who couldn’t come to terms with the series’ diversity.
“I don’t really have anything to say about The Acolyte cancellation that hasn’t already been said but I just want to reiterate how disappointing it is that women/poc/queer people are constantly fighting tooth and nail to simply exist in the Star Wars fanbase,” said one X/Twitter user.
Turner-Smith and Levieva as Mother Aniseya and Mother Koril
Another tweeted: “As a queer person of color who has been a lifelong fan of Star Wars, the entire saga of The Acolyte from announcement to cancellation has been a sickening reminder that we truly are not welcomed here.”
A third wrote: “F**k the haters who’s only gripe with the show was that it was predominantly POC and created by a gay woman. Hating on it for those reasons? You’re doing nothing but outing yourself. It is a phenomenal show that pushed Star Wars into better territory.”
Check out the responses below.
As a queer person of color who has been a lifelong fan of Star Wars, the entire saga of The Acolyte from announcement to cancellation has been a sickening reminder that we truly are not welcomed here.
— Aki | Kaizoku Lupin 🏴☠️🎩 (@KaitoKaizoku) August 20, 2024
i don’t really have anything to say about the acolyte cancellation that hasn’t already been said but i just want to reiterate how disappointing it is that women/poc/queer people are constantly fighting tooth and nail to simply exist in the star wars fanbase and,
— tali 🫧 (@taliesart) August 20, 2024
Disney really just said fuck you to so many queer, POC, and non traditional Star Wars fans all bc this show got review bombed to hell and back before it even came out 🙃 https://t.co/scn6CGqq1l
— nikiana 🍉 mourning the acolyte (@nmedansky) August 19, 2024
the acolyte’s cancellation tells a really sad tale:
the sequel trilogy got so much hate and now there’s a solo rey movie in development
the acolyte got so much hate and it got canceled after one season
the difference? the acolyte championed non-white and queer characters.
— kale • tortured poet era 🖋️ (@cursedoracles) August 20, 2024
Fuck the haters who’s only gripe with the show was that it was predominantly POC and created by a gay woman. Hating on it for those reasons? You’re doing nothing but outing yourself.
It is a phenomenal show that pushed Star Wars into better territory. #RenewTheAcolyte
— sean 🇮🇪🤝🏼🇵🇸 (@Sean_Gabbett) August 20, 2024
if you disliked the acolyte, why? 🤔 because most of the reasons I’ve seen are:
1. racism
2. sexism
3. homophobia
4. it’s “woke” or too political, aka likely one of the above but you want to be subtle about it
5. a combo or all of the above
6. it’s slow/nothing happens in it— 🌸 Melanie 🌸🏳️🌈 (@goshdarnitmel) August 20, 2024
Very sad to hear this news. The show was amazing and different from other SW content in a great way.
— noelle 🍉 (@noellekelly7) August 20, 2024
You can dislike The Acolyte, it’s not perfect (like everything else).
But it’s inarguable that Star Wars media lead by women and/or poc and/or queer people are just treated on a complete other level.
— Denzel 🇵🇸🍉🥥🌴 (@tiredstemboy) August 20, 2024
This show had:
Incredible action
Incredible acting
Incredible design
And so much fucking lore and history
Truly need someone to explain like I’m 5 what was so bad about The Acolyte without using the words “woke”, “pandering”, “DAI” at me I’m so serious https://t.co/TOmcmKw3Po— 🔥Otaku Hot Girl Austin🔥 (@sailorsctaustin) August 20, 2024
saw someone criticize the acolyte for its “wokeness” because there isn’t a “white american male” in the cast… pic.twitter.com/f02Sy3oYbN
— yae (@omelasradio) July 11, 2024
This is a dumb decision. The Acolyte was by far the best thing Star Wars has done in years. Very disappointing https://t.co/MTOUhdH93B
— Callum (@CallumL49) August 19, 2024
the racists and misogynists won today sadly
— harv (@harvv) August 19, 2024
i still haven’t forgiven lucasfilm for canceling willow and now they’re getting rid of the acolyte? it’s starting to look like this studio genuinely hates gay people
— rosie (@houseoforgana) August 20, 2024
The post The Acolyte: Queer fans condemn cancellation of Star Wars series appeared first on GAY TIMES.
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