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One of the more heated aspects of the show's reception has been its promotional campaign, characterized by the cast’s outspoken advocacy for diversity and social agendas. This has created a contentious environment where the act of promoting The Acolyte often seemed intertwined with political statements, which many viewers saw as ideological pandering rather than authentic storytelling.
Notably, the cast and showrunner Leslie Hedlin, along with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, became focal points of criticism for their outspoken comments about representation and diversity in Hollywood. Critics argued that such priorities overshadowed narrative quality, leading to perceptions that the series is more about signaling social justice than delivering engaging science fiction.