Star Wars fans continue to hate The Acolyte as the audience rating drops down to an extremely low 14% despite the fresh Tomatometer score of 84%. One particular scene in the series has now irked fans for the complete absence of logic to meet its objective of representation. Leslye Headland’s show featured an obese Jedi character and fans questioned the inclusion of the character considering the physical and mental training undergone by the Jedi.
Fans were furious about this addition and complained that the new Star Wars series was following a ‘woke’ agenda. While the initial Star Wars projects under George Lucas featured predominantly white male characters, the new show featured mostly characters of diversity.
The Acolyte‘s Obese Jedi Padawan Gets Criticism For Throwing Out Logic
The Acolyte explores the story of Mae and Osha, both played by a talented Amandla Stenberg. Osha joins Master Sol and the Jedi in investigating the murder of several people. The murders are committed by none other than Mae, who is executing the orders of an unidentified Sith Lord. While the premise is interesting, fans absolutely hate the series and accuse that it ruins the Star Wars lore.
These fans also blame Disney and Kathleen Kennedy for trying to impose a forced inclusion agenda. The show features women as expert warriors than men, includes a lesbian relationship, and also includes an obese Padawan, whom fans think does not belong among the Jedi. The fan hate became almost clear from the Rotten Tomatoes score of the series.
Fans debated over the lack of logic in including an obese Jedi, defending that it’s not body shaming. One fan shared that Porkins in Star Wars: A New Hope made sense even though he was an obese character since he was a pilot for the Alliance. However, they argued that Jedis couldn’t possibly have an obese person among them.
Another fan explained that the earlier movies and books documented monk-like training for the Jedis, thus making all of them physically fit. Another fan on X pointed out that a Jedi was supposed to have self-control and discipline.
Fans also shared that a Jedi also had to master their emotions and their body, making it canonically impossible to have an obese Jedi. One fan compared Jedi with the US Navy and shared how they always chose a fit person to be its member. Some of the fan reactions read:
Calling out the ridiculousness of an obese Jedi isn't body shaming.
Porkins being overweight made sense, as he was a pilot and could still achieve the skills needed.
An obese Jedi makes no sense whatsoever. Just another diversity box ticked at the expense of logic.#TheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/Bwh2Bbg1ot
— Lucas Star Wars Girl (@LucasSWGirl) June 18, 2024
Part of Jedi training, documented in movies and books, is monk like training to physical and mental well being, I have not seen a lot of rotund Buddhist monks
— james cawlfield (@james_cawlfield) June 18, 2024
Aren’t Jedis supposed to have self control and pretty much epic discipline?
— 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚍 (@Woke_HR) June 19, 2024
Jedi have to master themselves, their emotion, their bodies, everything, they wouldn't be fat. It's not canonically possible, they wouldn't be a Jedi!
— Douglas Wayne (@Bound2Liberty) June 18, 2024
That's kind of like saying it would be possible to have an obese Navy Seal. Some things are just not going to happen!
— Jacob (@digital_snypr) June 18, 2024
Yeah it's so immersion breaking. But let's face it, an obese Jedi is the least of the show's problem.
— @AI_EmeraldApple (@AI_EmeraldApple) June 18, 2024
Fans also hated the fact that the show massively retconned one major Star Wars plot point introduced in the prequel series. It was revealed in George Lucas‘ prequel series that Anakin Skywalker was conceived by the Force without a father, making him a unique creation. However, The Acolyte revealed that Osha and Mae were also created using the Force, years before Anakin.
Star Wars Lore Hasn’t Been Nice To Obese People Either
While fans supported Porkins as an obese character in the original trilogy, the name itself suggested a body-shaming of the character. Moreover, the original trilogy used obese characters as gross villains, the greatest example being Jabba the Hutt. Star Wars used Jabba to repulse the audience, furthering the trope that obesity equals disgust.
In the film, Jabba is a vile gangster who kidnaps Princess Leia and tries to kill Han Solo. When the character was finally strangled to death, the viewers were more than satisfied with the death of the slimy villain.
The Disney Star Wars largely tried to avoid these offensive tropes. In one of the episodes of The Mandalorian, Jack Black and Lizzo guest stars as Bombardier and the Duchess. While the IP gives more importance to plus-size actors and other diverse actors, it is also important that they don’t just do it for the sake of doing it.
The Acolyte and other Star Wars projects are now available for streaming on Disney+.
