The Star Wars franchise stands as one of the most iconic and culturally significant film series ever created, surpassing mainstream success to attain a unique and unparalleled status in the realm of media. That said, there are rumors that Star Wars fired a ‘woke’ director from Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker sequel after some controversial comments. Now, we have decided to fact-check that claim.
Many fans concur that the original Star Wars trilogy, consisting of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, is widely regarded as the definitive trilogy within the entire saga. Its lasting impact is apparent, as it continues to influence and inspire various forms of entertainment across all mediums to this day.
Rumors Suggested Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Was Sacked From An Upcoming Star Wars Movie For Being ‘Woke’
Recently, a claim surfaced on the internet stating that Canadian-Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy was fired as the director of the upcoming untitled Star Wars movie centered around the character Rey Skywalker, portrayed by Daisy Ridley. The claim originated from YouTuber Mike Zeroh, who claimed that Disney and Lucasfilm decided to remove Obaid-Chinoy due to a “Rey movie backlash.”
The alleged backlash stemmed from a quote related to Obaid-Chinoy, where she stated that she likes to “make men feel uncomfortable.” However, it’s crucial to note that this quote is from eight years ago and was made in a joking context while addressing serious social issues in Pakistan, such as honor killings and acid attacks on young girls.
Did Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Actually Get Fired For Her ‘Woke’ Comments?
During an appearance at the annual summit Women in the World in April 2015 alongside Meryl Streep and Ava DuVernay, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy was questioned by host Jon Stewart about her approach as an activist and artist. Stewart asked whether she aimed to empower women or simply label men as “assh*les” in her documentaries about violence against women in Pakistan.
“What is the balance of activating a force for change, but also trying to permeate that patriarchy, that power structure? And is that a part of the calculation for your art as well, and what’s been the reaction to that?”
Obaid-Chinoy responded by expressing her enjoyment in making men uncomfortable, but she also jokingly excluded Stewart from that category. She stressed the importance of challenging men’s attitudes and making them uncomfortable to instigate change. According to her, true change occurs when men feel uneasy and are willing to engage in difficult conversations, questioning their own reflections in the mirror.
“You know, it is important to be able to look into the eyes of a man and say, ‘I am here’ and recognize that. Recognize that I am working to bring something that makes you uncomfortable and it should make you uncomfortable because you need to change your attitude.”
It’s crucial to highlight that Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s statements were made eight years ago and taken out of context. Therefore, it is pretty safe to say that they were unrelated to her Star Wars project. The claim of her removal as the director of the Star Wars film is unfounded and many feel this is just hate propaganda going against her.
