Star Wars Celebration 2023 serves as a reminder that fandom should be a force for good

gamesradar.com:

"Who doesn't love Star Wars?" our Celebration emcee whooped from the stage this weekend, to an uproarious cheer from the cosplay-clad audience. The atmosphere was absolutely electric, and in every panel, hall, and discussion, the overwhelming adoration for the galaxy far, far away was palpable. But for many, the dark side of the fandom has cast a shadow over their love for the universe George Lucas built, and so many after him have expanded. That goes for everyday fans, media professionals, and cast members alike – just look at the bile aimed at Ahmed Best and Hayden Christensen back in the noughties, to the (completely unfair) criticism hurled at Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy today. 

In fact, the toxic side of Star Wars is so prominent that it has a name: "the Fandom Menace," a play on The Phantom Menace. Today, debates over the Disney era – particularly The Last Jedi – are fiercely polarized. Obi-Wan Kenobi star Moses Ingram was the recipient of vile, racist abuse, as was John Boyega. Kelly Marie Tran walked away from an online presence thanks to hatred from certain Star Wars fans. 

At Star Wars Celebration, though, the sheer joy and enthusiasm from everyone in attendance made it easy to forget that some people are so determined to make the galaxy a rigidly gatekept and unwelcoming space. Emcee DJ Elliot regularly reminded everyone that this was a place to make lifelong friends, sharing that he met his wife thanks to Star Wars. I was in the audience for a lot of panels, which meant I heard him urge people to turn to strangers and shake their hand or chat to them multiple times over the long weekend. When one fan called up on stage expressed his fear that he'd be made fun of for his (spot on) General Hux