Toxicity is strong with this fandom.
Star Trek actor Simon Pegg on Wednesday slammed fans of the Star Wars franchise for being “the most toxic fandom” after being asked which franchise — of Star Wars, Star Trek and “Doctor Who” had the hardest fans to please, Mediaite reported.
Pegg – who stopped by SiriusXM’s Jim and Sam radio show – said he thinks Star Wars fans are the toughest.
“To be honest – and as someone who kind of, you know, started with the prequels when they came out, the ‘Star Wars’ fandom really seems like the most toxic one right now,” Pegg said.
“I’m probably very controversial when I say that,” he added.
The 52-year-old actor – who starred in 2015’s Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens – admitted he too was once a toxic fan and helped slam Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best, as The Phantom Menace was released in 1999.
“I apologize for the things I said about Jar Jar Binks,” Pegg said.
“Because of course there was a friggin’ actor involved. He got a lot of criticism and … it was human,” he continued. “And because it got a lot of hate, he suffered, you know, and I feel terrible to be a part of that.”
Actor Simon Pegg said that Star Trek has always been diverse and accepting. Victor Chavez/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
Best – who was ridiculed for his portrayal of Jar Jar Binks – previously revealed he once considered ending his life following backlash from fans.
More recently, Daisy Ridley, Kelly Marie Tran, John Boyega and newcomer Moses Ingram have all faced hateful fans, leading to Ridley and Tran leaving social media for several months.
“We are proud to welcome Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family and look forward to seeing Reva’s story unfold,” according to the official Star Wars account said in a rare statement in response to backlash.
Simon Pegg has criticized fans of the “Star Wars” franchise for being the hardest fandom to please. LEON NEAL/AFP via Getty Images
“If anyone intends to make her feel unwelcome, all we have to say is we fight back.”
Pegg said that members of the “Star Trek” community, however, are the complete opposite.
“I think the ‘Star Trek’ fans have always been very, very open – you know, ‘Star Trek’ [is] about diversity. It’s been since 1966, it always has been,” said the Shaun of the Dead actor.
The 52-year-old actor, who starred in the seventh installment of the ‘Star Wars’ saga, has admitted he too was once a toxic fan. Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
“‘Star Trek’ was woke from the start, you know? … That’s massively progressive. ‘Star Wars’, suddenly there’s a little bit more diversity and everyone starts making fun of it,” he said. “And it’s really sad.”