The still ongoing Black Lives Matter protests may no longer be in the media spotlight, but its effects are still being felt far and wide, such as in the film and entertainment industry. One recent example is Star Wars actor John Boyega calling out Disney for what it did to his character in the movies.
CNN reports that Boyega called out the House of Mouse in a recent GQ UK article regarding the company’s treatment of Finn, the Black stormtrooper character that Boyega originated in The Force Awakens.
The 28-year-old actor had pointed words for Disney, saying that they should not have marketed Finn to be more important than he actually is and then sidelines him in the two films that followed The Force Awakens.
Boyega also called out the treatment of other actors of color in the most recent Star Wars films, saying that actors like Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, and Naomi Ackie were also cast aside in order for the two white actors, Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver, to be highlighted.
While Boyega says that he is grateful for the “amazing opportunity” provided by his participation in the Star Wars movies, he refused to call it a great experience, as he says all the “nuance” was given to the characters played by Ridley and Driver.
As noted by NBC, even Boyega’s introduction to the Star Wars fandom was not a pleasant one, with the announcement of his casting resulting in a call for boycotts of the film. The reason for the boycott was to protest the “multicultural agenda” supposedly being pushed by the production.
Boyega also touched on this in the GQ UK interview, pointing out that he was the only member of the cast who had this “unique experience” because of his race. He said that none of the other cast members experienced being sent death threats on their social media accounts and that it should not come as a surprise that Boyega is now acting this way.
These revelations come months after Boyega delivered a heartfelt speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in London. In the speech, the actor called on the protesters to “control” the moment, remain as peaceful as possible, and support their “brothers and sisters.”
After the speech, social media accounts of both Star Wars and Disney expressed support for the actor. The Lucasfilm Twitter account called for an end to the “evil of racism” and described Boyega as a hero.
Another prominent Black voice that spoke up during the height of the Black Lives Matter protest was Spike Lee, who said he was encouraged by the diverse crowds that participated in the protests against George Floyd’s death.