‘Star Wars’ Director’s Comment About Men Sparks Calls to Boycott

Some social media users have called for boycotting Disney after new Star Wars director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s comments on men surfaced.

Chinoy is a Pakistani-Canadian journalist and two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker. Her films typically give a voice to feminist issues. Most recently, Chinoy directed Ms. Marvel. A part of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Ms. Marvel is a miniseries featuring the heroine Kamala Khan, the first Muslim superhero in the MCU.

While discussing the new Star Wars with CNN on Sunday, Chinoy said, “I’m very thrilled about the project because I feel what we’re about to create is something very special. We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away.”

Chinoy will be the first person of color and first woman to direct a Star Wars film. While Chinoy celebrates this milestone, others have criticized Disney’s decision to give her the director position.

New “Star Wars” director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is pictured on November 30, 2023, in Chipping Norton, England. Some on social media have called for boycotting Disney after Chinoy’s comments about men surfaced.
John Phillips/Getty Images for BoF

Matt Walsh, right-wing political commentator and children’s author, shared a video on X, formerly Twitter, of Chinoy explaining how her activism comes through in her art.

“Here’s the feminist director of the next Star Wars film saying that her goal is to ‘make men uncomfortable.’ This movie is destined to be Disney’s biggest flop yet,” Walsh wrote.

In the video, Chinoy is asked during a Women in the World Foundation panel, “What is the balance of activating a force for change, but also trying to permeate that patriarchy, that power structure, and is that a part of the calculation of your art as well and what’s been the reaction to that?”

Chinoy replies, “Oh, absolutely. I like to make men uncomfortable. I enjoy making men uncomfortable … it is important to be able to look into the eyes of a man and say, ‘I am here’ and recognize that. And recognize that I am working to bring something that makes you uncomfortable, and it should make you uncomfortable because you need to change your attitude.

“And it’s only when you’re uncomfortable, when you are shifty, when you have to have difficult conversations that you will perhaps look at yourself in the mirror and not like the reflection and then say, maybe there is something wrong with the way I think or maybe there is something wrong with the way I am addressing this issue.”

Newsweek reached out to Chinoy’s reps via email for comment on Wednesday.

X user @BASEDHillbillie re-shared Walsh’s post and wrote: “Imagine if men said this? Feminist are obsessed w/ men & making women seem superior. Feminist want to destroy societal norms & be men because they crave validation & love! Luckily numbers won’t lie & it’ll flop. Thanks for giving us the heads up to boycott this new #StarWars!”

Others also called for boycotting the film and Disney, owner of the Star Wars franchise.

“We should all boycott,” X user @votefloridaman wrote. “Star Wars has been boring garbage after George Lucas left—even episodes 1-3 were trash!”

X user @BuckeyeChi5 wrote: “Boycott @Disney with everything you have in your body. They have ruined FREAKING STAR WARS. This company deserves to be bankrupt.”

“All men must unite and boycott star wars,” X user @Karan_0_7 wrote.

The untitled Star Wars movie written by British screenwriter Steven Knight does not have a release date. It will be set after the events of Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker and focused on the character Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, as she builds a new Jedi Order.