It appears that the so-called “alt-right” has a problem with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story . The loosely-affiliated group is calling on moviegoers to boycott the upcoming movie because of its multiculturalism, using the social media hashtag #DumpStarWars, the Daily Beast is reporting .
The Star Wars universe is going on 40-years-old these days, but apparently the alt-right just now got the memo that the franchise’s universe is multi-cultural. Taking place as it does in a galaxy far, far away, humans of all colors share the screen with various aliens, robots, monsters, and whatnot.
The Lando Calrissian Adventures vol 1 – 3 (1983 novel cover art) | by William Schmidt #StarWars #Legends #art pic.twitter.com/KVjf5SN5NY
— StarWars Art Gallery (@SW_ArtGallery) December 4, 2016
This has been especially true since Disney jump-started the aging franchise; you’ll remember that Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens featured a diverse cast, including a black actor in a lead role. Similarly, the upcoming Rogue One also promises to feature a diverse cast.
itisalovelylife : RT 7onashoestring: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: John Boyega as Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens … pic.twitter.com/Psrso3q9KJ
— Pete & Heather Reese (@HeatherDReese) December 5, 2016
That hasn’t sat well with some members of the alt-right, and calls for a boycott are mounting.
Stop using your multiculturalism anti-American agenda in a science fiction Disney movie. We just want to enjoy a fun movie. #DumpStarWars
— Baked Alaska™ (@bakedalaska) December 8, 2016
Two Feminist propaganda Star Wars movies in a row, and Mark Hamill says Luke Skywalker may be gay. Time to #DumpStarWars
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) December 9, 2016
Note to Mark Dice: By your definition, the original three movies in the Star Wars franchise are also “feminist propaganda,” considering that a woman (Princess Leia) plays a central role in the plot of all three films. And Luke Skywalker isn’t gay; I just see him as like celibate, like a Buddhist monk. So there.
It seems the alt-right likes using boycotts and social media hashtags to get its point across, sometimes to dubious effect. After news broke that a few Starbucks employees far and wide may have blanched at having to call out the name “Trump” when Trump supporters asked for his name on their cups, the group began an effort to have Starbucks customers flood the business with requests to have the name “Trump” on your order. And by the way, here’s some advice no one asked for: Trying to shame a business by encouraging people to patronize that business kind of defeats the point you’re trying to make.
Similarly, after the cast of “Hamilton” hurt Mike Pence’s feelings, the Alt-Right called for a boycott of the hit Broadway musical. And here’s some more advice no one asked for: boycotting a Broadway show that is sold out 13 months in advance is going to prove problematic, to put it mildly.
And here is what I promise will be the last bit of advice no one asked for: Boycotting Rogue One is going to be as problematic as boycotting Hamilton . Unless it sucks eggs, Rogue One is going to be, as Donald Trump would say, “Yuuuuge!”
For those not familiar, the term “alt-right” refers to far-right ideologues, pundits, voters, writers, and news organizations, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center , and they’ve been energized by the Donald Trump campaign and his upcoming presidency.
Whether or not the term is disparaging depends largely on whom you ask, Breitbart , itself an organization that’s been accused of being “alt-right,” seems to consider it a badge of honor .
Will you be boycotting Rogue One because of its multicultural cast?
[Featured Image by Sarunyu L /Shutterstock]