Is This Chinese Version of the Star Wars Poster Racist?
The Internet is up in arms after seeing the latest Chinese version of the Star Wars promotional poster. When looking closely, it is clear that not only are the Black characters missing, but the star of the film, John Boyega, was drastically shrunken in size compared to the U.S. version.
The Force Awakens poster not only shows a downsized Boyega, tucked behind a droid, but it also completely erases Chewy all together. After receiving tons of backlash on social media, Chinese state-run newspaper the Global Times said "the change has nothing to do with racism."
"Since the poster is merely a promotion method and individual case, it would be unfair to criticize Chinese audiences for discriminating against the Black actor," said Chen Qiuping of the Beijing Film Association.
Meanwhile, over here in the States, T.I. is randomly weighing in. "It's always horrible when the Black man's left out of the picture," he told TMZ. "Maybe it was a marketing decision."
Watch another Black star in the film, Lupita Nyong'o, talk about her signature look in the video below:
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(Photo: Lucasfilm Ltd/Bad Robot/Truenorth Productions)