Simon Pegg calls 'Star Wars' fandom 'the most kind of toxic'

Simon Pegg, who has appeared in Star Trek and Mission: Impossible, has labelled the Star Wars fandom as “toxic” and “hard to please”.

During an appearance on Sirius XM’s Jim And Sam show, Pegg was asked which movie he thinks has “the hardest fans to please.” The actor didn’t hesitate when responding, “to be honest—and as someone who kind of was, you know, kicked off about the prequels when they came out, the Star Wars fanbase really seems to be the most kind of toxic at the moment. I’m probably being very controversial to say that.”

Pegg justified his comment by explaining that was once a “toxic” Star Wars fan. “I’ve apologized for the things I said about, you know, Jar Jar Binks. Because, of course, there was a fucking actor involved. He was getting a lot of flack and … it was a human being. And because it got a lot of hate, he suffered, you know, and I feel terrible about being part of that.”

In the same interview, Pegg spoke glowingly of Star Trek fans. “I find that Star Trek fans have always been very, very inclusive,” he said. “You know, Star Trek’s about diversity. It has been since 1966, it always was. There’s no sort of like, ‘Oh, you’re suddenly being woke now.’ Star Trek was woke from the beginning, you know?”

He added that one of the reasons he believes the Star Wars fandom is so toxic is due to some fans’ response to the recent inclusion of POC in the franchise.

“Star Wars suddenly there’s, there’s a little bit more diversity and everyone’s kicking off about it. And it’s, it’s really sad, you know?” He told the podcast hosts.

John Boyega Finn in Star War’s prequel The Force Awakens has openly spoken about the racist reaction he has experienced since joining the franchise.

“I’m the only cast member who had their own unique experience of that franchise based on their race,” he told British GQ. “Let’s just leave it like that. It makes you angry with a process like that. It makes you much more militant; it changes you. Because you realize, ‘I got given this opportunity but I’m in an industry that wasn’t even ready for me.’”

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