Star Wars Boss Confronts Toxic Fans In "Male-Dominated" Fanbase

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has spoken up about toxic Star Wars fans, specifically stating that women in the Star Wars universe often face more online abuse than men "because of the fan base being so male dominated." She said this to The New York Times, adding that it was an easy decision to hire Leslye Headland to run the new Star Wars TV show, The Acolyte, which premieres soon.

"My belief is that storytelling does need to be representative of all people," she said, as reported by Variety. "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."

Some of the female actors in Star Wars, including Daisy Ridley and Kelly Marie Tran, have faced online abuse, and Tran quit social media in the wake of it all. In 2018, Tran wrote a piece for The New York Times about what he experienced, writing, "Their words seemed to confirm what growing up as a woman and a person of color already taught me: that I belonged in margins and spaces, valid only as a minor character in their lives and stories."

As for Headland, she told The New York Times that toxic fans are not welcome in the Star Wars fandom.

"As a fan myself, I know how frustrating some Star Wars storytelling in the past has been. I've felt it myself," she said. "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."

The Acolyte premieres on June 4 with the first two episodes arriving on Disney+. As for the film series, the franchise returns to theaters in 2026 with The Mandalorian and Grogu.

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