Kathleen Kennedy Says ‘A Lot of Women’ in Star Wars Struggle With ‘Male Dominated’ Toxic Fandom

Producer and president of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy has responded to the toxic side of the Star Wars fandom, saying women are much more likely to receive attacks online “because of the fan base being so male dominated.” Addressing the recent criticism from some of the fanbase towards the upcoming Disney+ series The Acolyte, Kennedy said that “a lot of the women who step into Star Wars struggle” with toxic fandom, with showrunner Leslye Headland the latest to bear the brunt.

“My belief is that storytelling does need to be representative of all people. That’s an easy decision for me.

Operating within these giant franchises now, with social media and the level of expectation — it’s terrifying. I think Leslye has struggled a little bit with it. I think a lot of the women who step into ‘Star Wars’ struggle with this a bit more. Because of the fan base being so male dominated, they sometimes get attacked in ways that can be quite personal.”

In a new interview with The New York Times, Kennedy offered her thoughts on how women in particular are treated by some fans, with the likes of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker star Daisy Ridley and Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s Kelly Marie Tran having faced online harassment in the past.

These attacks have even led to many of the Star Wars actors to abandon being online altogether, with The Acolyte’s Leslye Headland revealing that she has limited her exposure online and calling out fans who engage in toxicity.

“As a fan myself, I know how frustrating some ‘Star Wars’ storytelling in the past has been. I’ve felt it myself. I stand by my empathy for ‘Star Wars’ fans. But I want to be clear. Anyone who engages in bigotry, racism or hate speech … I don’t consider a fan.”

Daisy Ridley Is Due to Return to the Star Wars Franchise in an Upcoming Rey Movie

Created by Leslye Headland, The Acolyte stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner- Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss. Early reactions have heaped praise on the Star Wars series, with many loving the ensemble cast and the show’s efforts to bring something fresh to the franchise.

You can check out the official synopsis for The Acolyte below:

“An investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master against a dangerous warrior from his past. As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems…”

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As for the wider franchise, Daisy Ridley is all set to return to a galaxy far, far away in an upcoming sequel centered on her character, Rey. Directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the currently untitled Star Wars sequel will pick up 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker and finds Rey rebuilding the Jedi order.