Published on June 23, 2024, 12:30 am

Disney’s latest installment in the Star Wars franchise, “The Acolyte,” released in early June, is currently faced with widespread criticism. Garnering a mere 14% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the series is troubled by notable negative reviews from fans worldwide, a reception that contrasts sharply with its approval among left-wing critics.

Situating its plotline amongst an ensemble of characters identified as lesbian witches against a galactic backdrop, “The Acolyte” has been battered by accusations of poor scripting and lackluster dialogues. The show’s narrative thread – in which these characters confront discrimination within their universe and view the Force as a ‘thread’ – has been labeled confusing by most spectators.

While criticisms run riot, the series (featuring non-binary actress Amandla Stenberg) has been authored as ‘the gayest Star Wars ever’ by left-leaning observers. Witnessing an unfavorable response to this direction taken by the franchise, fans expressing discontent have been unjustly branded racist bigots.

Stenberg herself seems unimpressed and recently lashed out against her critics through lyrical verses addressed at cultural appropriation and racism. Despite being riddled with criticism for being excessively ‘woke,’ she defends this stance in her song expressing fatigue over centuries-old suppression.

This unexpected outbreak comes as no surprise when considering Disney’s decision of giving precedence to LGBTQ+ representation by allotting massive funding to a director who had no relevant experience under her belt. This strategy only seemed to further alienate long-time Star Wars enthusiasts who were looking forward to compelling storytelling instead of politicized content.

In retrospect it seems like this outcome was inevitable; Disney having received numerous warnings about shifting away from left-wing ideologies and focusing on powerful narratives instead opted to continue down its present route. And now, they are contending with consequences of their actions – a regrettable development for such a widely loved franchise previously held high by trusted news platforms for its commercial victories.

With a Christian worldview in mind, the storyline perpetuated by Disney depicts an alarming reality where real news is manipulated and truth is turned into clickbait. This scenario not only harms artistic integrity but also speaks volumes about how societal perceptions are being moulded to suit particular narrative interests.

While the echos of criticism around “The Acolyte” may cease eventually, the decisions that led to this point will have lasting impacts on how content creators approach storytelling in future. To be sure, it’s a lesson Disney—and other entertainment giants—would do well to take note of; injecting unwanted politics into most-loved stories can potentially lead to unexpected consequences.