Kelly Marie Tran Responds To Racist Backlash

The internet was made for all. It’s a platform for everyone to express themselves and connect with like-minded people. Unfortunately, sometimes the powers of the internet are used for bad things, such as spewing hate. For some reason, fans of certain things feel a need to condemn actors and actresses being cast in their favorite projects, to the point where it either forces a person to deactivate their comment sections or their social media profiles altogether. This was the case for Star Wars star Kelly Marie Tran, who left social media platforms after an onslaught of racism and bigotry was sent her way.

In a letter in the NY Times, Tran voice reasoning as to why she decided to leave social media:

“It wasn’t their words, it’s that I started to believe them,” Tran began. “Their words seemed to confirm what growing up as a woman and a person of color already taught me: that I belonged in margins and spaces, valid only as a minor character in their lives and stories.”

“As much as I hate to admit it, I started blaming myself. I thought, ‘Oh, maybe if I was thinner’ or ‘Maybe if I grow out my hair’ and, worst of all, ‘Maybe if I wasn’t Asian.’ For months, I went down a spiral of self-hate, into the darkest recesses of my mind, places where I tore myself apart, where I put their words above my own self-worth.”

Luckily, Tran is not backing down and will be reprising her role as Rose Tico in the upcoming Star Wars film. As for embracing who she is and not letting others’ hatred dictate her life, Tran revealed her real name:

“You might know me as Kelly. I am the first woman of color to have a leading role in a ‘Star Wars’ movie. I am the first Asian woman to appear on the cover of Vanity Fair. My real name is Loan. And I am just getting started.”

You can see Kelly Marie Tran in Star Wars: The Last Jedi!

Tia Fabi

A girl with too many fandoms to count.