It goes without saying that we are huge fans of Rose Tico and Kelly Marie Tran here at The Nerds of Color. Unfortunately, there’s a significant portion of Star Wars fandom that doesn't agree. Even worse, they’ve taken their disdain for a fictional character and used it to harass the actress so much that she had to delete her Instagram.
Online harassment in the Star Wars community -- and fandom, writ large -- is nothing new. Recently, Phantom Menace actor Ahmed Best revealed he contemplated suicide as a result of the fan backlash to his portrayal of Jar Jar Binks. Just the other day, a cadre of angry fanboys cried foul and singled out StarWars.com personality Andi Gutierrez over a mug she owns. But as Rose Tico famously said at the end of The Last Jedi:
In order to heed Rose's iconic words, we are planning a "Rally For Rose" during San Diego Comic-Con next week! Inspired by our friends at Black Heroes Matter, I'm coming to Comic-Con with a bag full of "Rose for Hope" t-shirts that I will be handing out. Patterned after Shepard Fairey's classic Obama poster, these t-shirts exemplify the hope that many Asian American and WOC Star Wars fans have for the character. So we're calling on every Rose Tico supporter at Comic-Con to join us at Bayfront Park, between Hall H and the Hilton, as we gather in our Rose Tico t-shirts and cosplay to #ForceOutHate and show why #SWRepMatters.
I'll be giving away shirts, but if you have your own Rose-inspired shirt or are planning to cosplay as everyone's favorite Resistance mechanic come join us! Additionally, for anyone who purchases a Rose t-shirt between now and Comic-Con, we'll donate a portion of the proceeds to the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum.
WHERE: Bayfront Park — between the Convention Center and the Hilton
WHAT: Come wearing Rose Tico-inspired shirts or in Rose Tico cosplay
#RallyForRose #RoseForHope #SWRepMatters #ForceOutHate
