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Actor slams Star Wars as ‘whitest, elite space’

Kelly Marie Tran and John Boyega in the ‘Star Wars’ film ‘The Last Jedi’
Kelly Marie Tran and John Boyega in the ‘Star Wars’ film ‘The Last Jedi’ (Lucasfilm)
  • Actor John Boyega has criticised Star Wars for its predominantly white environment and the racist backlash he faced after being cast.
  • Boyega described the franchise as the "whitest, elite space".
  • While Black actors like Billy Dee Williams and Samuel L. Jackson have had roles, their presence felt more like tokenism than substantial representation, he said.
  • Boyega acknowledged Star Wars as a pivotal moment in his career but called out the racist abuse he and co-star Kelly Marie Tran endured due to their inclusion.
  • He has previously criticised Disney for sidelining Black characters after initially promoting them as important figures.
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