British actor John Boyega criticizes Disney for the treatment of characters played by comedians from minorities, like his own, in the last episodes of the
Star Wars
saga
, according to him "
put forward
" then "
left out
".
In an interview published Wednesday by the site of the magazine
GQ
, he accuses in particular Disney, to which the franchise belongs, to have "
put forward a black character, to market them as if they were going to be more important in the franchise than" they are not, and then leave them out
”.
According to GQ magazine, John Boyega refers to the treatment of his character (the rebel stormtrooper Finn) in the last installment of the saga, but also to the fate reserved for that of other non-white actors, such as Naomi Ackie (the warrior Jannah ), Oscar Isaac (the pilot Poe Dameron) and Kelly Marie Tran (the mechanic Rose Tico), with less development if not inconsistent.
“
They gave Adam Driver (who plays Kylo Ren) a lot of nuance, they gave Daisy Ridley (Rey) a lot of nuance, let's be honest.
Daisy knows it.
Adam knows it.
Everyone knows it
, continues the British actor.
But when it comes to Kelly Marie Tran or John Boyega, we screw it all up.
"
Read also:
Star Wars
: victim of racist and sexist remarks Kelly Marie Tran leaves social networks
He explains how his hairdresser on set had no experience with hair like his, but "
still had the nerve to pretend
".
Or how he had been the victim of racism on the part of the public, some members of which threatened to "
boycott the film because I was part of it
" or sent him "
death threats
" on social networks.
The star, hero of the future BBC series,
Small Ax,
directed by Steve McQueen (she evokes the fate of migrants who arrived from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom, Editor's note), also denounces in this interview the systematically stereotyped treatment of black characters in blockbusters , who "
are always afraid,
who are always drenched in bloody sweat!"
"
John Boyega nevertheless acknowledges that
Star Wars
has been an “
incredible opportunity
” and a “
stepping stone
” that has helped him both in his life and in his career.
But his accusing remarks are not there to satisfy revenge, it would be missing the point according to the actor.
Above all, he tries to show the frustrations and difficulties encountered by some people in this sometimes rigged industry, "
because I realized that I was given this opportunity in a sector that was not even ready for me
" .
Read also: John Boyega on the front line after the death of George Floyd's death
“
And that makes you angry.
It makes you much more militant, it changes you
”, confided the actor who did not hesitate to take the microphone during the first Black Lives Matter rally organized in June in London to honor the memory of George Floyd, black American killed by a white policeman.
Upset, his voice choked, he delivered a moving speech of support for his American “
black brothers and sisters
”, which has gone viral on social networks.