‘Star Wars’ Fans Are Angry and Polarized. Like All Americans.

A recent study by Morten Bay, a University of Southern California digital media researcher, revealed that over 50 percent of the venom directed on Twitter at Rian Johnson, director of “The Last Jedi,” came from the same sources as Russian election meddling.

Using the analytical tools that other technologists deployed to uncover Russian influence during the 2016 election, Mr. Bay found that “bots, trolls/sock puppets or political activists” were using the “Star Wars” debate “to propagate political messages supporting extreme right-wing causes and the discrimination of gender, race or sexuality” and that “a number of these users appear to be Russian trolls.” So it seems that it was political operatives, not fans, who were denigrating the movie and fomenting some of the virulent racism and misogyny against its cast.

The “Star Wars" franchise is among Disney’s most lucrative properties.

A recent study by Morten Bay, a University of Southern California digital media researcher, revealed that over 50 percent of the venom directed on Twitter at Rian Johnson, director of “The Last Jedi,” came from the same sources as Russian election meddling.

Using the analytical tools that other technologists deployed to uncover Russian influence during the 2016 election, Mr. Bay found that “bots, trolls/sock puppets or political activists” were using the “Star Wars” debate “to propagate political messages supporting extreme right-wing causes and the discrimination of gender, race or sexuality” and that “a number of these users appear to be Russian trolls.” So it seems that it was political operatives, not fans, who were denigrating the movie and fomenting some of the virulent racism and misogyny against its cast.

Imagine being so hung up on blaming everything on Russians, that EVERYthing that you don't like is because RUSSIA.

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Like the impeachment, and their 2010 disaster, they will double down on what doesn’t work until we give them a sympathy vote.

"Said it was the best Star Wars he'd ever seen."

It was definitely up there, had a lot of the feel of the original Star Wars that started it all. I remember cutting school to go see the original Star Wars with my girlfriend back in 1977, we were nerd-geeks long before such terms even existed! Hard to imagine I would still be a fan 42 years later!

Empire Strikes Back is still my all-time favorite of the series.

Rogue One was really good too.

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