Jodie Turner-Smith, known for her role as Mother Aniseya in Disney’s The Acolyte, has spoken out against the racism and hostility faced by her and her co-stars during their time on the short-lived Star Wars series. In an interview with Glamour UK, Turner-Smith criticized the network for failing to provide support amid the backlash, stating that Disney’s silence in the face of online harassment is unacceptable.
“They’ve got to stop doing this thing where they don’t say anything when people are getting f—ing dog-piled on the internet with racism and bulls—,” she said, highlighting the need for the studio to take a firm stand against such behavior. “It’s just not fair to not say anything. It’s really unfair.”
Turner-Smith emphasized the importance of studios like Disney publicly denouncing hate speech, arguing that a strong statement from them could significantly impact the culture of fandom. “It would just be nice if the people that have all the money – whether that be Disney or any studio – were showing their support and putting their feet down. Say this is unacceptable: ‘You’re not a fan if you do this,’” she added.
The actress expressed her belief that Disney would not lose financial backing by making such a statement, pointing out the significant purchasing power of consumers of color, particularly Black individuals. “They might find that it’s actually more lucrative for them, but everyone’s using ‘woke’ like it’s a dirty word,” she remarked.
Turner-Smith’s remarks resonate with those of her former co-star, Amandla Stenberg, who previously addressed the hateful rhetoric the cast endured from some segments of the Star Wars fandom. Following the show’s cancellation after just one season, Stenberg shared her disappointment but noted that she wasn’t surprised given the backlash the series faced even before its announcement.
In a series of Instagram Stories from August, the 25-year-old actress described the vitriol as a “rampage of hyper-conservative bigotry” and expressed how the negativity affected her personally. “I anticipated it happening, but it’s not something you can fully understand until it’s happening to you,” she reflected.
Stenberg noted that the backlash stemmed from the show’s casting choices, which included women and people of color in lead roles. “I feel like I’ve kind of moved through those feelings in various ways, including being vocal about it myself,” she stated, asserting her commitment to her values even while working for Disney.
As both actresses navigate the fallout from The Acolyte, their calls for accountability highlight the ongoing challenges of representation in the entertainment industry and the importance of solidarity from major studios.
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