Recently, Star Wars actor John Boyega tossed heavy criticism towards Disney in an interview with GQ Magazine. Boyega felt his character had been sidelined, stating that “what I say to Disney is do not market a black character as important and then push them aside.” Some have dismissed the criticism, stating that it is not a racial issue. However, for many fans, Boyega has at last said what we’ve been thinking for so long, and Disney’s corporate hypocrisy has finally been brought to light. 

From the beginning, Disney had marketed Boyega’s character, Finn, as essential to the sequels. They were praised for their token black character and fooled many fans by teasing them with clips and images of advertisements with Finn wielding the legendary Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber, implying the possible journey to becoming a Jedi. This implied journey never actually made it to the big screen.

Finn had the potential to be one of the best characters in the Star Wars Universe. He is introduced as a stormtrooper who leaves the First Order, refusing to commit the atrocities ordered of him. His character had great potential for development. However, he is reduced to an accessory to the main character as he runs around picturesque scenery screaming, “REYYYY!”

Rather than sidelining his character and later confirming his force sensitivity, the writers could have had Finn train alongside Rey in The Last Jedi with Luke Skywalker as his master, too. This way, the Finn from the movies could live up to the Finn that Disney had marketed all along.

Disney truly wronged Boyega, using him for diversity points to push their fake woke agenda, while simultaneously depriving his character of the development they had initially set up for him. This is yet another reminder that when it boils down to it, these corporations put on a progressive facade just to please us, when in reality they aren’t as progressive as they claim to be.