Jodie Turner-Smith Criticizes Disney for Failing to Protect Actors from Online Racism and Bullying

Jodie Turner-Smith Critiques Disney Over Racism in The Acolyte

In a striking revelation, Jodie Turner-Smith has called out Disney for failing to protect its actors from the rampant online racism and bullying that emerges whenever people of color lead projects within the franchise. This troubling trend has been evident with the backlash against Turner-Smith’s co-star Amandla Stenberg and others from the recently canceled series, The Acolyte.

Turner-Smith, who portrayed Mother Aniseya in the Star Wars installment, expressed her disappointment with Disney’s silence during the vicious attacks launched against Stenberg. In an interview for Glamour UK’s Women of the Year issue, she stated, “Amandla put so much care and thought into that role, and it’s disheartening to see that the studio isn’t publicly supporting her.”

The actress condemned the lack of action from Disney, emphasizing, “They need to stop ignoring the hate that actors face online. When people are being bullied on the internet, it’s simply unfair for the studio to remain silent.”

She believes that if Disney were to take a stand and make it clear that such behavior is unacceptable, it could significantly impact both the trolls and the affected actors. Turner-Smith argued, “It would be encouraging if companies with financial power showed their support. They should declare, ‘This is not acceptable: If you engage in this behavior, you’re not a fan.'”

Addressing the financial implications, she noted that people of color, particularly Black audiences, represent a substantial portion of consumer spending. “They might discover it’s actually more profitable for them to take a firm stance,” she said, alluding to the frequent derogatory use of “woke” in discussions about diversity.

Turner-Smith herself has faced online racism, especially when she was cast as Anne Boleyn in a 2021 limited series. Despite negative reactions, she remains hopeful about the industry evolving. “Opinions change, and what’s considered normal shifts over time. We are not going to stop being a part of narratives created by others,” she asserted.

She highlighted the disparity in how failures are perceived in Hollywood, pointing out that minorities often carry the blame when projects don’t succeed, unlike their white counterparts. “Some people are allowed to make mistakes, while others are expected to be flawless,” she said.

Amandla Stenberg has also addressed the severe negative feedback from fans, describing the emotional toll it took on her when she joined the project. This pattern of harassment is not new, seen previously with actors like Moses Ingram and John Boyega, who have voiced similar experiences of online vitriol.

Boyega notably expressed his frustration with Disney’s handling of characters like Kelly Marie Tran and himself, arguing they were not given the attention and development that was promised. Actor Ahmed Best, known for his role as Jar Jar Binks, has shared his own traumatic experiences of receiving death threats during his time in the franchise.

The ongoing discussions surrounding racism and representation in Hollywood reveal a pressing need for change. As the conversation continues, it’s evident that incidents like those faced by Turner-Smith and her colleagues will likely persist unless concrete measures are taken to combat online bullying and to foster a more inclusive environment in the industry.