Part 5/12:

The tendency of Disney and Lucasfilm to attribute commercial failures to racism, misogyny, or ideological opposition has become a troubling pattern. When Obi-Wan Kenobi faced declining viewership after an initially strong start, officials and social media accounts labeled any criticism as rooted in racist or sexist hate. Such tactics—often seen as gaslighting the audience—aim to dismiss legitimate fans' feedback by framing dissent as racist or bigoted harassment.

The Obi-Wan Kenobi example is particularly telling: despite positive buzz prior to release, viewership declined sharply, yet the franchise’s defenders persisted in asserting that negative reactions were solely due to prejudice. This defensive stance backfired, alienating more fans and undermining credibility.