When asked about the ignorance of some of the fans, Boyega didn’t hold back. He also wanted to let his haters know that he’s extremely proud to be Nigerian too.
Here’s an excerpt of his interview with the New York Times:
When some people criticized the “Star Wars” trailer — even threatened to boycott the movie — because it showed a black actor in a stormtrooper uniform, how did that make you feel?
It made me feel fine. I’m grounded in who I am, and I am a confident black man. A confident, Nigerian, black, chocolate man. I’m proud of my heritage, and no man can take that away from me. I wasn’t raised to fear people with a difference of opinion. They are merely victims of a disease in their mind. To get into a serious dialogue with people who judge a person based on the melanin in their skin? They’re stupid, and I’m not going to lose sleep over people. The presale tickets have gone through the roof — their agenda has failed. Miserably.
You didn’t feel the urge to respond to these critics?I just don’t get it. You guys got every single alien in this movie imaginable to man. With tentacles, five eyes. Aliens that, if they existed, we’d definitely have an issue. We’d have to get them to the government and be, like, “What are you?” Yet what you want to do is fixate on another human being’s color. You need to go back to school and unlearn what you have learned. I think Yoda said that, or Obi-Wan.
Is he single? He’s delicious.
He’s mine lol!!
That he is. And he has a good head on his shoulders. Let’s hope things stay that way. Hollywood has a way of messing up people.
Real sh-t.
lmao
He’s everything Michael B Jordan is afraid to be. Anyway, I’m only seeing this movie to support him and Lupita. I don’t even know what the hell a Star Wars is. I’ve never seen any of the movies.
Lmao me neither, I’ve never watched Star Wars. But I’ll go see this to support him and Lupita (even tho they wont need it, the Star Wars franchise has always did huge at the box office).
I love to see black people who have pride and aren’t afraid to call out racist fools. I wish him continued success.
Man, that interview was everything! Some of our African American actors could take lessons. Plus, I’ve loved him every since “Attack The Block!”
Now I want to see this movie. I had no idea how dope this guy was. It’s refreshing to see black celebrities who aren’t afraid to speak the truth and who love being black.
Nice.
Yes I’m definitely pulling for him he speaking nothing but the truth.
I love it.
He’s handsome.
Love a proud black man!