Star Wars Fans Criticize YouTube for Allowing Harassment of Amandla Stenberg
The Star Wars fandom, known for its passionate and dedicated fanbase, has recently come together to criticize YouTube for its handling of content attacking actress Amandla Stenberg. Stenberg, who played the lead role of Osha in the now-cancelled Disney+ series, The Acolyte, has been the target of online harassment and hate speech from certain YouTube channels.
In a series of Instagram Stories posts last month, Stenberg spoke out against the “hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol” she faced due to her involvement in the show. She highlighted the divisive nature of the current social climate, driven by echo chambers of thought and algorithms that reinforce biases. Stenberg emphasized the fear and hatred directed towards anything perceived as different or other.
Following Stenberg’s comments, members of the Star Wars community called on YouTube to enforce its community guidelines and take action against three channels – Geeks + Gamers, RK Outpost, and Nerdrotic – for their targeted harassment of Stenberg. These channels have been criticized for their derogatory and racist language towards Stenberg, including calling her “vapid and narcissistic” and using racist dog whistles like the “angry Black woman” stereotype.
An open letter shared by the Rewriting Ripley podcast called for the demonetization of the channels, citing their prolonged and targeted harassment against women of color. The letter highlighted the harmful impact of such content and emphasized that it goes beyond mere opinion or criticism, constituting a form of online abuse.
YouTube responded to the calls for action by encouraging users to flag inappropriate content and report it for review. However, despite reports being lodged against the offending channels, YouTube ultimately decided that the content was not violative of its policies and would remain on the platform. This decision has sparked outrage among supporters of Stenberg and the Star Wars community, who have condemned YouTube’s perceived lack of concern and cowardice in addressing online harassment.
The backlash against YouTube’s decision has brought to light the platform’s policies on hate speech and harassment. YouTube’s guidelines prohibit content that promotes hatred based on protected group status, including race, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation. The platform also prohibits content that targets individuals with insults or slurs based on their physical traits or identity.
The refusal to take action against the offending channels has raised questions about YouTube’s commitment to creating a safe and inclusive online environment. Supporters of Stenberg and the Star Wars community have emphasized the importance of holding platforms like YouTube accountable for allowing harmful content to proliferate unchecked.
Moving forward, it remains to be seen how YouTube will address the concerns raised by the Star Wars fandom and supporters of Amandla Stenberg. The ongoing debate highlights the need for platforms to take a proactive stance against online harassment and hate speech, ensuring that all users can engage in respectful and constructive dialogue without fear of intimidation or abuse.