Kelly Marie Tran’s Queer Revelation Stirs Controversy Among Star Wars Fans!

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Eight years following her appearance in “The Last Jedi,” Kelly Marie Tran is garnering attention again, this time not for her acting prowess, but for her repeated focus on identity politics and allegations of mistreatment by “Star Wars” fans. Notably, Tran, who portrayed the comparatively minor character Rose Tico, has been vocal about feelings of victimhood, despite the fact that the “Star Wars” series has a rich history of casting actors from diverse backgrounds, such as James Earl Jones (Darth Vader), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Samuel L. Jackson, Ahmed Best, Femi Taylor, Hugh Quarshie, John Boyega, Lupita Nyong’o, and numerous others.

In a recent interview, Tran spoke about encountering “abusive comments that were racist and sexist” from certain fans, often referred to as “toxic,” and presented herself as a representative figure for underrepresented groups in Hollywood. However, online harassment is a frequent issue faced by public figures, and some supporters and spectators question the degree to which Tran’s situation reflects broader systemic problems, particularly since numerous actors of color have been part of Star Wars without making their ethnicity a significant aspect of their public image. Tran’s frequent references to her identity and perceived oppression may overshadow her valuable contributions to the films, which were controversial for reasons other than casting decisions. In essence, Rose Tico was not universally disliked.

She shared with Variety that she’s been learning to embrace aspects of herself that she once felt scared or ashamed of, as depicted in “The Last Jedi”. This past year, she starred in four films based on Asian stories directed by Asian creators, some of whom were also queer. Instead of concealing this aspect of self-acceptance she’s showcasing, she expressed a desire to make it a part of her art. The entire experience, she noted, was about celebrating queerness, family chosen outside traditional norms, and the joy that comes from these experiences, which turned out to be incredibly meaningful for her at that stage in her life.

It seems that a shift towards emphasizing identity politics over narrative has left many viewers uninterested, causing some fans to steer clear of new installments in popular franchises and other big-budget Hollywood productions. The reason is that discussions about diversity and the portrayal of actors as victims or symbols of their identity groups have come to overshadow the quality of the storyline and characters. This change away from the immersive, relatable experience that once characterized blockbuster entertainment is now being viewed as a negative development by some viewers.

However, the film Tran is advocating through his recent criticism towards Star Wars fans, not only aligns with but exceeds many aspects of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (D.E.I.), making it possibly one of the most inclusive films in contemporary cinema. Titled “The Wedding Banquet,” this movie is a remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 feature. Andrew Ahn (“Fire Island,” “Spa Night”) is the director of the updated version, and the cast emphasizes “representation for the LGBTQ+ community.

As a gay Asian individual, I’m constantly seeking out projects and chances to amplify our presence and prove that we do indeed exist. This film remake seems tailor-made for this purpose, as it offers an ideal platform for showcasing our experiences. In today’s politically charged environment where our sexuality, religion, and radicalized identities are often weaponized to create division, a film like this, which balances humor with significant themes, is crucial for raising awareness and most importantly, demonstrating that complex identities and lives can be both entertaining and chaotic.

In the story, Tran takes on the role of Angela, a character who enters into a marriage for a green card, with the condition that she receives costly in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments for her partner – someone she loves as more than just a friend.

In this film, Tran portrays Angela, a scientist who’s part of a quartet of queer friends living together in Seattle. Angela and her partner Lee (played by Lily Gladstone) long to start a family, but Lee’s expensive IVF treatments are proving ineffective. Meanwhile, their friends Chris (Bowen Yang) and Min (Han Gi-Chan) reside in the garage. As Min’s grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung) pushes him to abandon his artistic pursuits for a role within the family corporation in Korea, Min devises a plan to remain in the U.S., as his student visa is expiring soon. His strategy involves pretending to marry Angela to secure a green card, and in return, he promises to fund Lee’s IVF treatment.

In her current promotions for new ventures, Tran appears to be concentrating on narratives centered around Asian and queer themes. While this specialized approach may attract a specific group of cinema enthusiasts, it might not strike a chord with the broader audience or even deepen the discontent among long-term fans who feel that the focus on storytelling has been overshadowed by an emphasis on meeting social diversity requirements.

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2025-04-21 19:01