Monique Denise Ingram, born on February 6, 1994, is an esteemed American actress. Her exceptional portrayal of Jolene in the Netflix miniseries The Queen’s Gambit (2020) earned her a nomination for the prestigious Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
‘Obi-Wan’ Star Moses Ingram Speaks out Against Racism
The notorious dark side of the Star Wars fandom is widely recognized, comprising a vocal faction of overly critical “fans” who engage in the reprehensible act of harassing performers for their portrayal of characters. Their critiques are often tainted with sexist and racist remarks.
Regrettably, actress Moses Ingram has become the latest target of this toxic behavior, as she has been inundated with racist messages following her role as the main antagonist in the recently premiered Obi-Wan Kenobi series. This group has previously driven actresses away from online platforms and even subjected a young actor to relentless bullying. Now, their focus has shifted to Moses Ingram, bombarding her with racist messages in response to her performance in the newly released Obi-Wan Kenobi series.
Ingram has posted several pictures showcasing the harsh comments she has received on Instagram, along with an Instagram story where she expressed, “There is limited action that can be taken to address this issue.” The animosity cannot be halted by any means. I find myself perplexed as to why I am standing before you, conveying this information. “To be honest, I’m uncertain.”
The Official Star Wars Twitter Account Also Issued a Statement Condemning the Racist Backlash, Writing
We are delighted to welcome Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family, and we are eagerly anticipating the unfolding of Reva’s story. Let us not succumb to bigotry when there are more than 20 million sentient species in the Star Wars galaxy.
The Disney+ Star Wars series have had a mixed reception, with some disappointing aspects such as perplexing creative choices, subpar writing, and inconsistent editing. However, there have also been moments of praise amidst the criticism. Obi-Wan Kenobi, being a beloved character in the franchise, has generated high expectations for his upcoming spin-off on Disney+. Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of Obi-Wan has been widely regarded as iconic, further adding to the anticipation surrounding the series. It is worth noting that The Mandalorian has been an exception to the inconsistent quality, standing out as a successful addition to the Star Wars universe. On the other hand, there has been a disproportionate amount of criticism aimed at Ingram’s character, Raya, who is a Force-sensitive Inquisitor working for the Empire. Fans have labeled her as “poorly written” and “one-dimensional,” highlighting the need for improvement in her character development.
Although the writing in Kenobi may not be flawless, the backlash towards Ingram’s character is significant. Reva embodies the classic Star Wars archetype of the pantomime villain, and she displays a similar level of inner conflict as Darth Vader and Kylo Ren. It is interesting how certain aspects of the character provoke such specific criticism and hatred within a franchise that is filled with simplistic, stereotypical characters.
There are certainly valid criticisms to be made about Disney’s Star Wars, but none of them should be directed at the actors who are simply fulfilling their roles. The anger and harassment aimed at them reveal a concerning inability of some fans to distinguish between reality and fantasy. In fact, certain YouTubers who thrive on clickbait have been consistently outraged by Ingram’s mere presence in the show since its inception. Lucasfilm executives even warned Ingram about the racist hostility she might encounter from the toxic fringes of the fandom.
Moses Ingram, Who Plays Obi-Wan Kenobi, Discusses Some of The Racist Messages She’s Received
Ingram shared screenshots of comments she had received on her Instagram stories, which ranged from death threats to racist attacks. After displaying the series of screenshots, Ingram directly addressed the negative response, acknowledging her uncertainty about why she chose to publish these remarks. She stated, “There is no solution to this issue.” “No action can stop the hatred. I am unsure of my purpose here, standing before you and informing you about this. I am truly uncertain.”
“The unsettling feeling within myself is what troubles me,” the actor expressed, “It is something that nobody has informed me about, yet I am expected to remain silent and endure it, to put on a smile and tolerate it.” “But I am not built that way. Therefore, I wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to those who support me through their comments and in places where I am unable to post myself. As for the rest of you, you are peculiar.”
Star Wars has released a statement in response to the racist remarks made on their official Twitter and Facebook pages. The statement expresses excitement over the addition of Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family and expresses anticipation for the development of Reva’s storyline. It firmly asserts that if anyone attempts to make her feel unwelcome, the response will be one of resistance. Additionally, the statement emphasizes the diversity within the Star Wars galaxy, with over 20 million sentient species, and strongly discourages any form of racism.
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