Part 3/12:
Amidst the declining ratings, mainstream outlets and media insiders have largely taken a defensive stance, defending Disney and Lucasfilm while pushing the narrative that fans are at fault. Headlines have claimed that The Acolyte isn’t ruining Star Wars—fans are, simply for not accepting the series. Critics allege that the poor reception stems from racist and sexist review bombing, with claims that racial bias and misogyny are influencing audience scores—despite decades of evidence that discredits such assertions.