Rahul Kohli Calls Out 'Racist' Star Wars Fans: 'Some Of You Sicken Me'
By Kristin Myers on May 31, 2022 at 1:30 PM EDT
Actor Rahul Kohli is not here for hate in any fandom, but especially not in Star Wars.
Recently, "The Queen's Gambit" actress Moses Ingram, who plays the Force Sensitive Inquisitor Reva in the Disney+ live-action series "Obi-Wan Kenobi" explained that Lucasfilm execs had actually warned her that she might receive harassment online due to the color of her skin.
It seems that the "Midnight Mass" actor has seen a lot of the hatred thrown her way and he is warning his followers: diversity is here, whether you like it or not.
Rahul Kohli Stands Up Against Racism
Ah racist messages & threats to another woman of colour in Star Wars.
Some of you sicken me.
Let me tell you something, your favourite franchises are gonna be more diverse/inclusive whether you like it or not. No amount of bullying is gonna stop that. You’ve already lost 😘
— Rahul Kohli (@RahulKohli13) May 31, 2022
On Tuesday morning, the "iZombie" actor tweeted, "Ah racist messages & threats to another woman of colour in Star Wars. Some of you sicken me."
He added, "Let me tell you something, your favourite franchises are gonna be more diverse/inclusive whether you like it or not. No amount of bullying is gonna stop that."
He concluded, "You’ve already lost 😘"
True Fans have no problem with that. We are welcoming it. ❤
— Bibi (@MyrtleSnowfox) May 31, 2022
One fan commented that "true fans have no problem" with diversity. Instead, they added, "We are welcoming it."
Of course! Black Women existing in a Star Wars movie? How dare they
— ENS (@enseventea) May 31, 2022
"What's going on? People speaking s--- about Third Sister?" one user asked.
"Of course!" another replied. "Black Women existing in a Star Wars movie? How dare they."
Reva is a good character so if it’s directed to her actress I’m genuinely baffled. She’s as brash and quick to react and break rules as anakin makes a good dynamic as a main antagonist for Kenobi
— Fahren (@FWJW16) May 31, 2022
"Reva is a good character so if it’s directed to her actress I’m genuinely baffled," another commented. "She’s as brash and quick to react and break rules as anakin makes a good dynamic as a main antagonist for Kenobi."
Moses Ingram Isn't The Only 'Star Wars' Actor To Receive Harassment
Actor John Boyega has been very outspoken about the harassment he received when he was initially portrayed as a black Stormtrooper in the trailer for 2015's "The Force Awakens," which jumpstarted the sequel trilogy. His character was sidelined for the next two movies, and although it was never said exactly why, many believe that it was due to the cold fan reception regarding his character.
In 2017's "The Last Jedi," actress Kelly Marie Tran also received a terrible amount of backlash for her character as Rose Tico. Although there was a fair amount of criticism directed to Rose as a character, the backlash extended to the actress to such an extent that Tran was forced to quit social media... and still hasn't been back.
Even Ahmed Best, who portrayed Jar Jar Binks in the prequel trilogy, was not immune from criticism back in the 90s.
If only Star Wars have the same treatment and awareness to John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, and Ahmed Best. Maybe things would be a lot more different in Star Wars fandom if they did something over a decade earlier.
— Count Chocula (@VadersPetPig) May 31, 2022
One fan commented, "If only Star Wars have the same treatment and awareness to John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, and Ahmed Best. Maybe things would be a lot more different in Star Wars fandom if they did something over a decade earlier."
Yeah, but they're not good characters, which was why the actors caught flack even though it was the bad writing that was at fault. Haven't seen Kenobi so I can't speak of Reva.
It doesn't excuse the actual abuse the actors get, obviously— 🇳🇬Shawn (dragon country)🏴 (@Uncharted7108) May 31, 2022
Another fan replied, "Yeah, but they're not good characters, which was why the actors caught flack even though it was the bad writing that was at fault. Haven't seen Kenobi so I can't speak of Reva. It doesn't excuse the actual abuse the actors get, obviously."
You’re missing the point, do I really have to spell out that the same can be said about any character’s “writing” in any trilogy, especially the prequels?
The point is: being an actor of color in Star Wars inflicts a grotesque fold of hatred upon them…for existing.
— Count Chocula (@VadersPetPig) May 31, 2022
The original poster summed up their post, writing, "You’re missing the point, do I really have to spell out that the same can be said about any character’s 'writing' in any trilogy, especially the prequels?"
They concluded, "The point is: being an actor of color in Star Wars inflicts a grotesque fold of hatred upon them…for existing."