Leslye Headland’s new Star Wars show, The Acolyte, is getting glowing reviews from critics but is getting hammered by audiences. Some call it review-bombing, but it’s more complicated than that.
Earlier this week, I spent most of my evenings afterwork falling down a YouTube sarlacc pit of The Acolyte review-bombing allegations. I’ve came across Nerdrotic, Star Wars Theory, Eckharts Ladder, Stupendous Wave, and Generation Tech—channels which I’ve followed for years—each weighing in on the controversy.
One video claimed that Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy dislikes Star Wars fans and pre-emptively attacked them because the show was "trash." Another insisted the show "doesn't feel like Star Wars," and that longtime fans are calling it out as "garbage." Yet another video explained that the industry blames review-bombing because audiences aren’t responding to "virtue signals."
For context, here’s what happened: The Acolyte debuted on Disney+ on June 4. Created by Leslye Headland, the first openly queer person to direct a live-action Star Wars project, The Acolyte has stirred MASSIVE controversy. Despite an initial positive critical reception with an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes, its audience score plummeted to 14% amidst allegations of review bombing, largely due to the show's diverse cast and LGBTQ+ themes. The backlash intensified after the introduction of characters dubbed (incorrectly) as “lesbian space witches” .
Leslye Headland, Disney
Showrunner Leslye Headland, who is the ex-personal assistant of Harvey Weinstein, who is also known for Russian Doll, addressed the backlash, expressing sadness that people would see something gay as inherently negative. Her comments sparked more YouTube reaction videos, leading me further into the fandom debate. During a press run for The Acolyte, a reporter asked whether the show could be "the gayest entry in the Star Wars franchise." This led to some memorable and controversial quotes from the lead actor and showrunner.
Lead actor Amandla Stenberg responded with a bold statement: "Star Wars is gay. It's always been gay." Showrunner Leslye Headland followed up with her own humorous take: "Isn't R2-D2 a lesbian? And C-3PO is gay." While these comments were intended to be playful and highlight the inclusivity of the franchise, they stirred significant force-push back. Reviewers insist they’re not bigots; they just think The Acolyte is "not Star Wars," and that Disney is ruining the franchise.
It's worth noting that The Acolyte isn't the first time we've seen LGBTQ+ representation in the Star Wars universe. For instance, Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra in the canon comics is openly lesbian, having relationships with female characters like Magna Tolvan, Sana Starros, and Eustacia Okka. Juhani from Knights of the Old Republic is also lesbian, and Lord Cytharat from Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) is gay. Additionally, Goran Beviin and his husband Medrit Vasur are a gay couple, and characters like Lana Beniko and Theron Shan from SWTOR are attracted to both men and women.
Other instances include Doctor Avesta and a same-sex couple in the Light of the Jedi novel, as well as a lesbian couple in Out of the Shadows. There was even a blink-and-you-miss-it lesbian kiss at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, and Padme’s handmaiden Sabe is depicted as gay in Queen's Peril. With such a rich history of diverse characters, The Acolyte continues a well-established tradition of inclusive storytelling in the Star Wars universe.
Amandla as Mae (left) and the series protagonist Smile-o-ren (IYKYK) aka Qimir (pron: Kai-myr). Courtesy of Lucas film.
Putting aside my own feelings about the show (I enjoyed really the fight scene in the last episode, which was probably the best Jedi fight scene Disney has done since acquiring the IP), there’s another point to consider: sometimes franchises have instalments that don’t please everyone—and that’s fine. Star Wars, like all great creations, thrives on its ability to evolve. George Lucas himself handed the reins to other writers and directors for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Disney, since acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012, may have churned out too much content, but the idea that the franchise shouldn't evolve is absurd.
Every band has an album their "true fans" don’t like. Every director has a misfire. Game of Thrones went off the rails in its last two seasons. The Walking Dead got boring. Dylan found Jesus. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was a disappointment. The Hobbit trilogy faced backlash. Terminator Genisys and Terminator: Dark Fate missed the mark. Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom were seen as lacklustre. Star Trek: Into Darkness and Star Trek: Discovery faced significant fan backlash. Even Alien: Resurrection and Alien: Covenant were divisive, and the Fantastic Beasts series received mixed reviews. This doesn’t devalue what fans love, and A New Hope isn’t going anywhere just because Disney+ fumbled Acolyte.
However, WTF is going on with Ki-Adi-Mundi's Birthday??
The Acolyte: Canon Controversies and the Ki-Adi-Mundi Debate
Younger Ki-Adi-Mundi (left) Still from the Acolyte, Courtesy of Lucas film.
A major controversy with The Acolyte is its portrayal of Ki-Adi-Mundi, a character some fans claim the show is "retconning" by confirming he was alive during the High Republic era. The character’s age was only confirmed in non-canon Legends stories. In canon, his age was never specified, making this controversy moot.
In The Acolyte episode 4, Ki-Adi-Mundi makes a brief cameo, reigniting debates about his comments in The Phantom Menace and alleged canon-breaking changes. The show’s setting in the High Republic Era suggests he must have been born before this period, causing friction among fans.
However, the uproar is based on Legends, not official canon. Canon has never revealed Ki-Adi-Mundi's age, so the show’s creators are free to explore uncharted details. As The Acolyte unfolds, it will likely address potential canon contradictions.
Amandla Stenberg Claps Back: The Acolyte Star Addresses Racism and Misrepresentation in New Song
Disney+’s The Acolyte actress Amandla Stenberg took to Instagram on Juneteenth to share a track addressing the backlash and racism she’s faced since the show's release. The post read: “Happy Juneteenth 🖤. And to those who are flooding me with intolerable racism — since it took me 72 hours on my laptop to make this song and video, u got 72 hours to respond. and I expect choreo!”
Stenberg’s song directly addresses the misrepresented quote, media mischaracterization, and the misuse of the term "woke." Her lyrics critique the weaponization of her words and the broader issues of misinformation and racism, while also calling out journalists for spreading divisiveness for clicks and views. The track underscores the enduring struggle against oppression and the importance of confronting pain and trauma to avoid perpetuating cycles of hate. BUT... I think it would of been safer to NOT put this out. Not because of trolls, but because it goes against Disney's super strict codes of conduct. So Amandla's music career better takeoff like Anakin's Starfighter in episode 3 when rescuing the Chancellor from General Grievous. Because she may not be able to continue working with the 100+ year old corporation after this stunt. PLUS the cringe level is over 1000!
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