No abstract

The Star Wars sequel trilogy stirred up controversy in the Star Wars fanbase as racist and sexist comments regarding the new characters plagued forums and discussion boards. Critics of the new cast insisted that the new, diverse characters were poorly written or bland, while their detractors accused their criticism of being motivated by sexist and racist attitudes. In the present study, we assess whether fans' sexist and racist attitudes are associated with their preference for the new characters relative to previous characters. Self-identified Star Wars fans completed an online survey assessing the extent to which they hold sexist and racist attitudes, as well as their liking of newer, more diverse, characters (i.e., Finn, Rey, Rose Tico) and older, White, and man-led characters (i.e., Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Padme Amidala). The results support the hypothesis, showing that both hostile sexism and symbolic racism are negatively associated with liking the new characters. The results highlight how one's prejudices can extend beyond the screen and impact their attitudes toward fictional characters in the media they consume.