The creator of Disney+’s Star Wars: The Acolyte, Leslye Headland, is facing significant backlash amidst claims her show is ‘woke’ propaganda featuring ‘lesbian space witches.’ Headland, known as the first openly queer person to create
a major Star Wars project, expressed that she did not intend for the show to have an overt political agenda.
Critical Acclaim Versus Audience Backlash
While critics have praised The Acolyte, giving it an 85% Rotten Tomatoes rating, the audience score tells a different story. With only a 14% approval rating from viewers, it is the lowest among all Star Wars content, showing a stark contrast between critical and public reception.
LGBTQ Themes Stir Controversy
The show’s reputation for LGBTQ themes was bolstered by an interview where a journalist from The Wrap described it as arguably the gayest Star Wars by a considerable margin.
While Headland and non-binary star Amandla Stenberg found humor in this characterization, Headland clarified that she didn’t set out to create queer content with a capital Q.
Trouble with Episode Three
Episode three of The Acolyte presented viewers with twin witches Mae and Osha testing their Force abilities against a lush backdrop, depicting their vastly different temperaments. This episode also sparked controversy for seemingly confirming queer themes as critics claimed it featured ‘lesbian space witches.’
Headland Defends Her Vision
Headland defended her creative decisions, stating, I don’t believe that I’ve created queer, with a capital Q, content.
She further explained that the witches’ closeness is natural given their all-female society without male presence.
Final Thoughts on the Backlash
Amidst criticism, Headland remains proud of her work, saying,I would be proud to create something that inspired queer people.
She expressed regret over the negative reception from certain fans who see the show’s queerness as a detriment to the Star Wars universe.
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