Kelly Marie Tran Speaks Out on Her Star Wars Discrimination: “Stop Scapegoating People of Color”

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Currently, Kelly Marie Tran finds herself thriving professionally. She takes pride in her identity and the characters she portrays. However, it wasn’t always this way; a mere few years back, her circumstances were vastly different.

In the year 2017, when Tran debuted in the Star Wars universe as Rose Tico in The Last Jedi, she encountered severe criticism. Some viewers responded with prejudice and misogyny, launching hateful comments and cyber-attacks against her. Today, Tran is vocalizing her experiences during that period.

Tran explained that she was unfairly targeted. This treatment left a deep wound on her. She feels that it wasn’t just about her personal qualities, but about a larger issue. “It’s intriguing how actors of color often face similar challenges when they enter these environments,” she remarked.

Tran believes her experiences mirror the state of society currently. She said, “These incidents serve as a small representation of the societal atmosphere we’re immersed in, and it’s truly regrettable.

She noted that frequently, instead of examining the root cause, people tend to point fingers at individuals from racial and LGBTQ+ communities for problems. In simpler terms, she suggested that we should realize it’s not these groups themselves causing the issues, but rather the system that needs addressing. Essentially, she urged people to stop singling out and blaming those who are different.

In the face of adversity, Tran has become more resilient. She’s currently involved in projects that hold personal significance to her. As she put it, “Over the past year, I’ve worked on four films, and they all revolved around Asian narratives directed by Asian creators. A few of these were also helmed by queer directors.

Tran has learned to embrace and rejoice in aspects of herself that she once feared or felt embarrassed about, as she shared with Variety.

One of her recent movies, titled “The Wedding Banquet“, played a significant role in further affirming her identity. This production, which portrays a heartwarming love story featuring queer Asian characters, was brimming with joy and camaraderie. As Tran expressed, “The entire process was about celebrating queerness, celebrating chosen family, and celebrating queer happiness, which I didn’t realize I needed so deeply at that stage in my life.

Reflecting on my journey within the Star Wars universe, I’ve come to realize that there’s much ground left to cover when it comes to representation for actors of color in major film franchises. Here’s hoping that our collective appreciation for these stories will expand and embrace diversity as we continue this cinematic journey together.

She stated that it is hoped that individuals who may not typically have exposure to communities of queer people or people of color can understand through the art that these groups share common humanity – having desires, aspirations, and being just like anyone else.

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2025-04-16 18:44