This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38259838
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Trump fans urge Star Wars boycott over reshoot claims | Trump fans urge Star Wars boycott over reshoot claims |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Supporters of Donald Trump are urging a boycott of the Star Wars film, Rogue One, due for US release next week. | Supporters of Donald Trump are urging a boycott of the Star Wars film, Rogue One, due for US release next week. |
| The campaign began with a series of tweets from activist Jack Posobiec, who claimed the writers changed the film to add scenes linking Mr Trump to racism. | The campaign began with a series of tweets from activist Jack Posobiec, who claimed the writers changed the film to add scenes linking Mr Trump to racism. |
| Screenwriter Chris Weitz said that this was "completely fake", though he and another writer have tweeted their opposition to the US president-elect. | Screenwriter Chris Weitz said that this was "completely fake", though he and another writer have tweeted their opposition to the US president-elect. |
| #DumpStarWars has been retweeted 120,000 times in the past 24 hours. | #DumpStarWars has been retweeted 120,000 times in the past 24 hours. |
| In a Periscope video, Jack Posobiec, who is an activist with Citizens for Trump, claimed the writers had said the Empire in the film "is a white supremacist organisation like the Trump administration and the diverse rebels are going to defeat them". | In a Periscope video, Jack Posobiec, who is an activist with Citizens for Trump, claimed the writers had said the Empire in the film "is a white supremacist organisation like the Trump administration and the diverse rebels are going to defeat them". |
| "They're trying to make the point of using this movie to push the false narrative... that Trump is a racist." he said. | "They're trying to make the point of using this movie to push the false narrative... that Trump is a racist." he said. |
| The basis of the claims appears to be tweets sent by Mr Weitz and fellow screenwriter Gary Whitta. | The basis of the claims appears to be tweets sent by Mr Weitz and fellow screenwriter Gary Whitta. |
| Following Mr Trump's election win in November, Mr Weitz posted: "Please note that the Empire is a white supremacist (human) organisation." | Following Mr Trump's election win in November, Mr Weitz posted: "Please note that the Empire is a white supremacist (human) organisation." |
| Mr Whitta responded: "Opposed by a multi-cultural group led by brave women." | Mr Whitta responded: "Opposed by a multi-cultural group led by brave women." |
| Both tweets were deleted within the day and Chris Weitz later apologised for politicising the film. | Both tweets were deleted within the day and Chris Weitz later apologised for politicising the film. |
| In the wake of the election, both writers also changed their Twitter avatars to the symbol of the Rebel Alliance, with a safety pin - a symbol which has been adopted in support of minorities. | In the wake of the election, both writers also changed their Twitter avatars to the symbol of the Rebel Alliance, with a safety pin - a symbol which has been adopted in support of minorities. |
| And Gary Whitta had previously apparently referred to Trump as a "Nazi": | And Gary Whitta had previously apparently referred to Trump as a "Nazi": |
| The #DumpStarWars hashtag quickly harnessed plenty of support: | The #DumpStarWars hashtag quickly harnessed plenty of support: |
| But was also widely mocked: | But was also widely mocked: |
| The film premieres next week in the US. | The film premieres next week in the US. |
| The pro-Trump Twitter army | The pro-Trump Twitter army |
| Donald Trump has 17 million followers on Twitter. | Donald Trump has 17 million followers on Twitter. |
| Among them are a group of vocal supporters who frequently champion him and are quick to denigrate those who oppose or criticise him. | Among them are a group of vocal supporters who frequently champion him and are quick to denigrate those who oppose or criticise him. |
| #DumpStarWars is only the latest in a series of online campaigns they have launched. | #DumpStarWars is only the latest in a series of online campaigns they have launched. |
| In the last few weeks, there have also been calls to boycott the cereal company Kelloggs, Starbucks and the musical Hamilton. | In the last few weeks, there have also been calls to boycott the cereal company Kelloggs, Starbucks and the musical Hamilton. |
| A handful of accounts are frequently retweeted in the thousands. | A handful of accounts are frequently retweeted in the thousands. |
| They tend belong to people who work in the media, managing websites or producing other media supporting Trump. | They tend belong to people who work in the media, managing websites or producing other media supporting Trump. |
| The most high-profile is Briton Paul Joseph Watson, an editor at Infowars, a website that has published outlandish conspiracy theories including one claiming Hillary Clinton has a secret "satanic network". | The most high-profile is Briton Paul Joseph Watson, an editor at Infowars, a website that has published outlandish conspiracy theories including one claiming Hillary Clinton has a secret "satanic network". |
| The tone of their tweets is frequently combative and polemical. They are quick to bait "liberals" or "social justice warriors" but not averse to a bit of martyrdom either, frequently decrying the MSM - mainstream media - as liars that victimise Mr Trump. | The tone of their tweets is frequently combative and polemical. They are quick to bait "liberals" or "social justice warriors" but not averse to a bit of martyrdom either, frequently decrying the MSM - mainstream media - as liars that victimise Mr Trump. |
| One conspiracy theory based on fake news which was popular among them, #pizzagate, led a man to fire a rifle in a restaurant linked to it this week. | |
| For more on social media reaction to this story and others, read our daily Social Buzz | For more on social media reaction to this story and others, read our daily Social Buzz |