If Star Wars fans thought that the wide, divisive, divide within the fandom would end with The Last Jedi, boy were they wrong! Now that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is out, it’s pretty clear that Star Wars fans are just as split over the final film in the Sequel Trilogy as they were about its predecessor. In the midst of all that division, the discourse online between fans has been just as volatile, with Last Jedi loyalists and Rise of Skywalker lovers constantly digging into one another. In fact, the flame-war has raged so hot that now the debate has turned to who and what even qualifies for the title of “Star Wars fan.”
If you want to jump down that rabbit hole, just scroll below to see how Star Wars viewers are debating what it takes to be a bonafide fan of the franchise, after The Rise of Skywalker:
Videos by ComicBook.com
Do You Even Star Wars, Bro????
Seeing the Star Wars movies does not make you a Star Wars fan.
— Ed Powell (@DrEdPowell) January 2, 2020
Actual Star Wars fans have done some of the following:
* Read the novelizations
* Read books in the EU
* Read new canon books
* Read some comics
* Watched the animated shows
* Participated in SW discussion groups.
Not surprisingly, the first test of a “real” Star Wars fans is just how much of the franchise they’ve experienced. If you haven’t read the novels, comics, or watched the animated series… SPOILER: You don’t qualify (according to this guy)!
This is Toxic Fandom in a Nutshell
As a guy who has done all those things, and written a bunch of Star Wars comics, I’m here to tell you that you’re a Star Wars fan if you like Star Wars.
— Ron Marz (@ronmarz) January 2, 2020
That’s it.
Period.
(This kind of fandom gatekeeping is toxic and embarrassing.) https://t.co/3R4UNzOOWS
In the opinion of comics writer Ron Marz, the previous tweet in this list is a pretty spot-on example of why the term “toxic fandom” gets thrown around so much these days…
The Finer Details
Oh, you’re a Star Wars fan? Name every one of Vader’s lil robotic toes pic.twitter.com/6wxqgkUPn0
— Shitty Star Wars Posts (@SW_takes) January 2, 2020
This Star Wars account is having fun with that first pretentious tweet about fandom gatekeeping by showing us just how inane the rules for fan qualification can get.
F*ck Yo Resume!
Hi, I have done all these things, including moderating a message board and running a fan blog and this guy is full of shit.
— Dunc (@clubjade) January 2, 2020
All you need to be a #StarWars fan is like some #StarWars. Not even all of it! (There is SO MUCH!)
Your “fan resume” means nothing. pic.twitter.com/OFoIyCEjDK
This Star Wars geek straight-up calls out the notion of a fandom resume, stating (in no uncertain terms) that the entire concept is ridiculous. (Narrator: “It was.”)
True Fans Have Spoken
You’re not a real #StarWars fan if you put parameters on what makes a real Star Wars fan. pic.twitter.com/ZLrH4ta8hQ
— Karen (@Khallion) January 2, 2020
According to some fans, the only thing that can disqualify you from being a Star Wars fan are rules about who can be a fan. We have spoken.
Cha-Cha Fandom
Seeing the Star Wars movies does not make you a Star Wars fan.
— ben mekler (@benmekler) January 2, 2020
Actual Star Wars fans have done some of the following:
* Slide to the left
* Slide to the right
* Take it back now y’all
* One hop this time
* Right foot let’s stomp
* Left foot let’s stomp
* Cha cha real smooth https://t.co/VbV9aNaaSL
This Star Wars is just flat-out having fun with these pretentious views. Is there anything the “Cha-Cha Slide” can’t fix?
Cult Rules
To be a Star Wars fan you must first
— Lynn *Sky* Walker (@lynnyneal) January 2, 2020
• Bath in wine from Skywalker Ranch
• Have the entire catalogue of legends memorized
• Embark on a pilgrimage to Galaxy Edge by foot
• Can recite the Christmas Special backwards
• Been punch in the face by a Lucasfilm employee
While this is definitely satire, there’s great truth in it. A lot of what these “super fans” want as requirements for fandom sound like a cult.
It’s All About Baby Yoda
Listen up, you’re not a real Star Wars fan if:
— The MandaTORIan (@ToriFett) January 2, 2020
-You don’t like baby Yoda
-You don’t love baby Yoda
-You wouldnt risk everything for baby Yoda
-You wouldnt burn down everything for baby Yoda
-baby Yoda
I mean, at this point, loving Baby Yoda is pretty much THE only requirement for Star Wars fandom. Just ask all those bandwagoners who only started getting into the series when Baby Yoda memes took over the Internet.
Even Non-Fans Agree
Not a Star Wars fan. I literally only like Clone Wars and the Ewok movies… and I know this is 100% BS.
— Jan Arrah (@JanArrah) January 2, 2020
Even viewers who very much do NOT want to call themselves Star Wars fans, agree: rules for fandom are total B.S.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is now in theaters. But only real fans are allowed to see it. ?
