Part 3/9:
The press tour for The Acolyte has been a thorough demonstration of how not to promote a franchise. Major outlets like The New York Times published fawning articles that praised mere diversity and representation while neglecting substantial discussion about the show's narrative or lore. Critics derided these puff pieces as superficial and tokenistic, focusing on hiring practices and representation rather than storytelling.
One of the journalists' descriptions of the show's characters—highlighting a "manless" protagonist, a lesbian leader, and casting Filipino actors—underscored a focus on diversity over substance. Several actors and creators attempted to defend or promote the project, but their efforts backfired, with many interviews becoming viral for all the wrong reasons.