Star Wars fans can be a little touchy when the latest film doesn't live up to their expectations.
Sometimes that feeling can bubble over into real-life toxic actions. Actress Kelly Marie Tran recently deleted her Instagram posts, with many speculating that it was because of online harassment due to her role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. And actor Ahmed Best, who played the controversial character Jar Jar Binks in 1999's Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, revealed on July 3 that the reaction to his role almost drove him to suicide.
On July 4, James Gunn, director of the Guardians of the Galaxy series, tweeted a link to an article about Best, with the comment, "People need to chill out."
Gunn later responded to the reaction his tweet received, writing, "People responding to this post saying, "Yeah, it wasn't the actor's fault! It was the writer's!" are missing the point. Critique it. Don't like it. But spewing hate and bile at individuals just doing their best to tell a story, even if the story sucks, is lame. Don't watch it!"
And then he went further, saying, "Star Wars (or any movie) may be important to you, but it doesn't belong to you. If your self-esteem depends on how good you think the current Star Wars is, or your childhood is ruined because you don't like something in a movie, GO TO THERAPY."
Star Wars (or any movie) may be important to you, but it doesn’t belong to you. If your self-esteem depends on how good you think the current Star Wars is, or your childhood is ruined because you don’t like something in a movie, GO TO THERAPY.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 4, 2018
It turns out not all fans agree that Star Wars doesn't belong to them. Wrote one Twitter user, "But that's all about perspective Gunn, cause in a sense, a movie series like Star Wars DOES belong to us. To all of us who felt a connection with it. When a film is created, it technically belongs to the creators, but from a certain [point of view] they give their creation to the world."
But that's all about perspective Gunn, cause in a sense, a movie series like Star Wars DOES belong to us. To all of us who felt a connection with it. When a film is created, it technically belongs to the creators, but from a certain POV they give their creation to the world.
— Arc Spark (@ArcSparkler26) July 4, 2018
On Thursday, Gunn gave a thoughtful reply, saying, "Once it's out there, I don't think it belongs to anyone. It just IS and what individuals make of it is what belongs to them. But, yes, of course the [intellectual property] & specific materials belong to Disney & our emotions & thoughts around it belong to us."
Once it's out there, I don't think it belongs to anyone. It just IS and what individuals make of it is what belongs to them. But, yes, of course the IP & specific materials belong to Disney & our emotions & thoughts around it belong to us.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 5, 2018
And the fans weighed in on both sides in the ensuing comment thread. Many agreed with Gunn that some fans go overboard with their devotion. Film critic Matt Zoller Seitz joined the discussion, writing, "I loved Star Wars as a kid. [The Phantom Menace] mostly bored and annoyed me. I got over it. Because I'm an adult."
I loved Star Wars as a kid. TPM mostly bored and annoyed me. I got over it. Because I’m an adult.
— MZS (@mattzollerseitz) July 5, 2018
Result of Toxic Fans:
— Vance Berk (@VanceBerk) July 4, 2018
Jake Lloyd - Harassed out of entertainment.
Hayden Christensen - Hardly acts anymore and, even tho he's starting to come back to events, always looks anxious at them.
Ahmed Best - considered suicide
George Lucas - Has given up making big budget movies.
Toxic Star Wars fans Pt 2:
— Vance Berk (@VanceBerk) July 4, 2018
Daisy Ridley - Off social media
Kelly Marie Tran - Harassed off Instagram
In-Progress: @rianjohnson - Toxic fans clearly trying to derail his wonderful career just because his entry in the space wizard series wasn't what they wanted.
just imagine taking it out on an actor, it’s crazy to think about
— Michael Bell (@MagnetoRex4Life) July 5, 2018
But some didn't feel fans were always to blame for the events affecting actors. "Daisy Ridley left [social media] for her own reasons, nothing to do with fans. Kelly [Marie Tran] left for unconfirmed reasons. And fans are entitled to their opinions," wrote Scott McNaughton.
Smh. One of these. Daisy Ridley left for her own reasons, nothing to do with fans. Kelly left for unconfirmed reasons. And fans are entitled to their opinions. Don't write shit movies, don't get backlash. Simple
— Scott McNaughton (@svcmcnaughton) July 5, 2018
I don't think anyone should bash the actors themselves but the person who wrote their characters. If she deleted her account maybe she didn't need it in the first place. If you're a celebrity you shouldn't go into your career without expecting criticism/backlash
— Scott McNaughton (@svcmcnaughton) July 5, 2018
And at least one fan pointed out that therapy isn't free, writing, "Sounds nice. As soon as I can cover rent and food I will try to budget for it."
Wow, you can afford therapy? Must be nice.
— Geoff Garton (@kearisbear) July 4, 2018
Sounds nice. As soon as I can cover rent and food I will try to budget for it.
— Geoff Garton (@kearisbear) July 5, 2018
James Gunn has a Star Wars connection of his own: He's neighbors in Malibu, California, with Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill. The two recently got together at a party after Twitter user Ian Fee suggested Gunn should find a role for Hamill in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
No word on whether that will happen, but Hamill recently told Collider he's "happy to be in the [Guardians] audience, there's a lot less pressure."
