Queer individuals have a rightful place in television and movies.
What's driving the Acolyte Hate? Some individuals harbor animosity towards Queer representation, but Disney has been increasingly inclusive. Ethan Clade from the 2022 Disney animated film Strange World is the first openly gay lead character in a Disney movie, and Cyrus Goodman is not only the first gay main character but also the first to say "I'm gay" on Disney Channel. This isn't Disney's first foray into showcasing Queer individuals in their projects.
Could Agatha All Along face the same fate as The Acolyte?
Agatha All Along, the latest creation from Marvel Television, is already generating controversy akin to the criticism faced by The Acolyte, sparking intense digital warfare between its fans and detractors. Initial reviews paint a promising picture for Agatha All Along, boasting an 81% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, concerns about potential portrayal of same-sex romance may lead to baseless attacks from those opposed to LGBTQ+ representation, exemplifying the internet's lack of nuance and rationality. To avoid negative criticisms, the show must ensure genuine on-screen chemistry and a more engaging storyline than The Acolyte. While valid critiques of The Acolyte exist, complaints about LGBTQ+ representation and well-written female characters are unwarranted, and bullying the cast and crew is entirely unacceptable. Recent reports of Disney toning down LGBTQ+ elements in upcoming releases are disappointing. It's crucial to carefully evaluate any criticisms of Agatha All Along, considering whether they are based on genuine flaws or personal biases, and to avoid repeating the toxic discourse surrounding The Acolyte, which ultimately led to the show's cancellation. Agatha All Along offers a refreshing change to the MCU and is undeniably enjoyable, so while it's acceptable to have opinions about the show, examining whether the criticisms stem from genuine concerns or personal prejudices is essential. Let's strive to avoid a recurrence of the negativity that surrounds The Acolyte.
The war has just begun.
The issue has many layers, but the main one is Disney's silence, which has infuriated Star Wars fans. We can't overlook some hardcore fans because the same could happen to the Star Wars Skeleton crew. Even those same fans targeted Star Wars Outlaws because the main character is a woman, not Han Solo. This also will make renewing The Acolyte difficult for Acolyte fans because the hate kept spreading to everything in Star Wars after The Acolyte was released. When The Acolyte already received hate before and after the show premiered and was canceled.
Review Bombing got out of Control
The Acolyte faced significant review bombing, with "fans" even targeting its merchandise, highlighting the severity of the backlash. Star Wars 'fans' have begun review-bombing Acolyte merchandise now (gamingbible.com). . Star Wars 'fans' have started review-bombing Acolyte merch now (gamingbible.com
Is Disney hesitant to stand up for its actors?
Disney's main challenge is not The Acolyte but the racism and hatred that actors like Moses Ingrim, John Boyega, and Amandla Stenberg faced. Ahmed Best supported Stenberg when she faced racism from Star Wars fans, adding an intriguing layer to the situation. Jar Jar Binks Ahmed Best Stands In Solidarity With Amandla Stenberg After The Acolyte Cancelation
Ewan Mcgregor stood up for His Fellow Actress
Star Wars boldly confronts issues of racism both within its universe and among its fan base. Ewan McGregor even spoke out against the mistreatment of Moses Ingram, condemning the bullying she faced as unbecoming of true Star Wars fans. The fact that a Star Wars actor felt the need to make a video addressing this issue is significant, especially in light of the recent cancellation of The Acolyte. Ewan McGregor addresses the racist comments against Moses Ingram (youtube.com)
Should theory remember how to create theories?
Star Wars Theory is widely recognized as a prominent figure within the Star Wars fanbase, but his recent content has raised some eyebrows. His focus on Amandla Stenberg is particularly noteworthy, with videos covering her coming out and the cancellation of the Acolyte. These videos have sparked discussion, especially in light of the recent news surrounding the Acolyte's cancellation due to issues of bigotry, homophobia, and racism. Star Wars Theory even portrayed Star Wars Explained, a YouTube channel, as a villain for sharing a photo about demonetizing hate on YouTube when every True Star Wars fan did the same thing.
Hardcore Star Wars fans lose their minds.
The Star Wars series The Acolyte by showrunner Leslye Headland is sparking controversy as a counter-petition gains momentum, calling for the show to be shelved from the franchise. This pushback comes after fans who anticipated LGBTQ themes launched a Change.org petition to secure its renewal. The opposing petition raises concerns about the show's potential to disrupt canon and harm established characters, urging Disney to revert the prequel era to George Lucas's original vision. With over 16,000 signatures, the counter-petition has eclipsed the renewal petition's support. Despite its initially favorable reception, the series has reportedly grappled with lackluster reviews and poor ratings, culminating in the lowest-ever viewership for a "Star Wars" series finale. Headland had previously expressed her intent to infuse the show with a "coded queer" essence, drawing from her own experiences as a queer woman.
Star Wars fans are upset with Disney.
Disney's decision to cancel The Acolyte left fans reeling, but now they are mobilizing to rescue the Star Wars series through an online petition. Despite controversy surrounding its cancellation, supporters are rallying to breathe new life into the show, citing its inclusive nature and representation. While some critics attribute the show's failure to a "woke" agenda, others point to its underperformance against a hefty budget as the primary reason for its cancellation. All episodes of The Acolyte are currently available on Disney Plus, offering viewers a chance to form their own opinions about the show.
Amandla Stenberg Speaks Up about Acolyte cancelation
“I’m going to be transparent and say it’s not a huge shock for me,” Stenberg begins in the video. “There has been a rampage of abuse that we had faced since the show was even announced when it was still just a concept, and no one had even seen it. That’s when we started experiencing a rampage of, I would say, hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudice, hatred, and hateful language towards us.”
“This affected me when I first got the job. Because it’s just not something — even though I anticipated it happening — it’s not something you can fully understand what it feels like until it’s happening to you,” Stenberg said. “However, I feel like I’ve moved through those feelings in various ways, including being vocal. … It just became inarguable for me, at a certain point, that to continue to be myself, I would have to honor my value system by being vocal even in the context of working for Disney.”
“It has been an incredible honor and dream for me to be in this universe,” they added. “Of course, I’m sad about the show being canceled. … I want to let those people out there who supported us in that way and supported us vocally — despite and in the face of all of the abuse that we received and the kind of targeted attack, I would say, we received by the alt-right — just that you were deeply loved and appreciated. And it made this job all the worthwhile for me.”
Star Wars fan dislikes The Acolyte
In this interview, hardcore Star Wars fans strongly believe that Disney should avoid catering to the acolyte fan base. They argue that promoting "woke" narratives not only damages the brand but also highlights a significant disconnect between creators and their audience. This disconnect is evident in the backlash against similar shows in the past.
The Drama Around the Canceled Woke Star Wars Show 'The Acolyte' Just Got More Hilarious – RedState
Manny Jacinto is interested in a second season.
Despite facing cancellation after its first season, hopes for a renewal of The Acolyte on Disney+ remain alive. Manny Jacinto, who portrayed The Stranger/Qimir in the series, expressed his personal life goal of seeing a second season during a Q&A session at Dragon Con, drawing enthusiastic support from fans. Despite mixed reviews and declining viewership, the show's potential renewal is still a topic of interest within the Star Wars fandom. Amandla Stenberg, who played twin characters Osha and Mae, expressed gratitude for the fans' support and addressed the impact of the show's cancellation on social media. With over 63,000 fans signing a petition for the show's return, the future of The Acolyte remains uncertain but intriguing.