The Acolyte's Jodie Turner-Smith Claims Disney Didn't Have Her 'Back' amid Online 'Racism and Bulls---' from Toxic Fans
Mar. 15, 2025Jodie Turner-Smith in ‘The Acolyte’.Photo:Lucasfilm Ltd./Disney+
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Lucasfilm Ltd./Disney+
Jodie Turner-Smithis sticking up for herself.
The actress, who starred as Mother Aniseya in Disney’sThe Acolyte, spoke out about the racism and hate she and her costars of color received during their time on the short livedStar Warsshow. While speaking toGlamour UK, Turner-Smith called out the network for the alleged lack of support they provided amid the controversy.
“They’ve got to stop doing this thing where they don’t say anything when people are getting f—ing dog-piled on the internet with racism and bulls—,” she said of Disney’s silence. “It’s just not fair to not say anything. It’s really unfair.”
Jodie Turner Smith in ‘The Acolyte’.Lucasfilm Ltd./Disney+
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Turner-Smith added, “It would just be nice if the people that have all the money – whether that be Disney or any studio – were showing their support and putting their feet down. Say this is unacceptable: ‘You’re not a fan if you do this.’”
The actress “bet” that Disney wouldn’t see “any money leave” if they made a “really big statement” speaking out about the matter. She noted how people of color, “especially Black people,” make up a large percentage of consumer buying power.
“They might find that it’s actually more lucrative for them, but everyone’s using ‘woke’ like it’s a dirty word,” she continued.
PEOPLE has reached out to reps for Disney andThe Acolytefor comment.
Amandla Stenberg in ‘The Acolyte’.Lucasfilm Ltd.
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Lucasfilm Ltd.
In a series ofInstagram Storiesshared in August, the actress, 25, reacted to the Disney+ series getting cancelled after just one season. Stenberg explained that although she is sad the show won’t be returning, she wasn’t surprised.
“I’m going to be transparent and say it’s not a huge shock for me,” she admitted. “There has been a rampage of vitriol that we have faced since the show was even announced, when it was still just a concept and no one had even seen it. That’s when we started experiencing a rampage of, I would say, hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudice, hatred and hateful language towards us.”
Stenberg noted howThe Acolytehad been subject to backlash prior to its release for its decision to cast women and people of color in lead roles.
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“This really affected me when I first got the job, because it’s just not something — even though I anticipated it happening — it’s not something you can fully understand what it feels like until it’s happening to you,” she said. “However, I feel like I’ve kind of moved through those feelings in various ways, including being vocal about it myself.”
source: people.com
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