Kathleen Kennedy Addresses Sexism in Star Wars Fandom: “They Unfairly Get Targeted”

Kathleen Kennedy’s exit interview tour isn’t just about movies, shows, and leadership structure.

It’s also about something Star Wars has wrestled with for years — and too often refuses to talk about directly: the harassment and sexism aimed at women in the franchise, both on-screen and behind the camera.

In her new Deadline interview, Kennedy speaks candidly about what female Star Wars actors and filmmakers face, and why she doesn’t sugarcoat it when new women enter the franchise.

Why this matters now

Lucasfilm is in the middle of a major transition — Kennedy stepping down, a new leadership structure forming, and Star Wars preparing for its next big era.

But as that next era arrives, one thing hasn’t changed: women who become visible in Star Wars projects are still disproportionately targeted online.

Kennedy putting that reality into words matters, because it’s not a fan theory or a vague PR statement.

It’s the former president of Lucasfilm describing what she’s seen up close.

What Kathleen Kennedy said

Kennedy explained that she’s direct when speaking with women entering Star Wars, because they can be targeted unfairly:

“I’m honest, especially with the women that come into this space because they unfairly get targeted. I don’t try to sugarcoat it.”

She also stressed that she doesn’t believe this reflects the majority of Star Wars fans:

“And I emphasize that it’s a very small group of people, with loud megaphones. I truly do not believe that it’s the majority of the fans.”

And Kennedy adds a point that increasingly shows up in fandom conversations today — the distortion effect of coordinated online activity:

“And I think we’re also in this weird world of where bots can affect things.”

Her conclusion is blunt:

“You have to develop a tough skin… You can’t make it go away.”

The context: this isn’t new — but it’s still a problem

Star Wars has a unique kind of fandom intensity.

For many people it’s not just entertainment — it’s identity, nostalgia, and culture.

That’s part of what makes Star Wars powerful.

But it’s also what makes the franchise vulnerable to toxic gatekeeping, where “I didn’t like a character” turns into something uglier, louder, and deeply personal.

And the reality is: women in Star Wars get hit harder and faster, even when the project itself is reviewed fairly.

Kennedy’s comments are essentially acknowledging what many actors, writers, and directors have already hinted at: Star Wars comes with an online pressure tax — and that tax isn’t evenly distributed.

Why this matters to fans (even the ones who disagree with Kennedy)

This topic always gets messy because it sits between two truths:

1. Some Star Wars projects genuinely deserve criticism
2. Some criticism turns into harassment, and women are disproportionately targeted

Kennedy isn’t saying nobody can criticize Star Wars.

She’s pointing at something else: the part of fandom that goes beyond critique and becomes targeting — often amplified by algorithms, outrage accounts, and sometimes automated activity.

Even if you’ve hated half of modern Star Wars, it shouldn’t be controversial to say: actors and creators shouldn’t need “tough skin” just to do their jobs.

What Comes Next

If Lucasfilm wants Star Wars to grow — new characters, new filmmakers, new perspectives — then this issue can’t remain a permanent background noise.

Kennedy’s phrasing is telling: she doesn’t claim it can be solved overnight.

But she also refuses to pretend it doesn’t exist.

And in a franchise entering a leadership transition, that may be one of the most important reminders of all:

Star Wars isn’t just battling for creative direction.

It’s battling for the basic ability to bring in new voices without them being punished for showing up.

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