•Former Doctor Who showwriter Russell T. Davies has blamed an “industrialized online hate economy” for dragging down science fiction franchises, singling out Star Wars as potentially the biggest victim of a fandom that terrorizes actors and pressures Disney into retreating from ambitious projects.
In an excerpt from his new book, The Queerest of Folk: A Life in Television, Davies writes that “Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Wars, they’re all being brought down by contempt,” arguing that leaks and monetized hate content are affecting the entire genre.
“Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Wars, they’re all being brought down by contempt.”
Russell T. Davies
The comments follow the leak ahead of Doctor Who‘s second-season finale on May 31, 2025, announcing Billie Piper’s return as Rose Tyler. The news spread across TikTok and YouTube before discussion shifted to accusations that the show had been “ruined” by becoming a “casualty of the culture war.”
A Fandom Defined by Its Own Hatred
Davies’ critique taps into an ongoing fandom joke: “Nobody hates X more than X fans.” The phrase appears most frequently in reference to Star Wars, where a quick search reveals hundreds of threads asking whether anyone could hate the franchise more than its own devoted fanbase.
Image: YouTubeThe original trilogy, following Luke, Leia, and Han, changed science fiction forever—but inspired such devotion to that era that any departure from George Lucas’s vision was viewed as disrespectful. That volatility even turned against Lucas himself when his prequel trilogy arrived after years of anticipation.
The Human Cost of Fandom Toxicity
Davies notes that the toxicity has had real consequences, pointing to the deterioration in mental health of actors such as Ahmed Best, who played Jar Jar Binks. Hayden Christensen—now beloved by fans—also faced intense hatred for his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker.
The sequel trilogy under Disney ownership saw this “Gelap Side” grow stronger. Even before The Force Awakens debuted in 2015, hate surrounded the film, seemingly triggered by Finn—a Black stormtrooper played by John Boyega—being introduced into a franchise featuring a talking frog alien.
Boyega was not alone. Castmates Kelly Marie Tran and Daisy Ridley were eventually driven off social media by fans who claimed to be “concerned” about the future of Star Wars.
Hatred Grows with Technology
Online abuse has continued into recent years, extending beyond ordinary criticism. Ewan McGregor went online to defend co-star Moses Ingram against racist trolls, while The Acolyte star Amandla Stenberg said she was “not surprised” by the show’s cancellation given the bigotry it faced.
Image: YouTubeEven universally acclaimed projects like Andor have not been immune to prejudice from fans who believe the franchise doesn’t need an in-depth exploration of political rebellion. The rise of generative AI has further empowered outspoken fans to create their own Star Wars content, while angry YouTubers publish endless streams of hate-fueled “criticism” for profit.
The Danger of Playing It Safe
Davies warns that this fanaticism increasingly shapes what Lucasfilm and Disney focus on. Just as Doctor Who reportedly retreated to Billie Piper and David Tennant after backlash over how “woke” the newest season was, Star Wars has leaned back toward the Skywalkers.
Andor and The Acolyte represented bold creative leaps—one depicting the early Rebel Alliance, the other exploring The High Republic era—but Davies argues that fear of bigotry is pushing studios toward “safe” choices. He notes that Lucas himself was an innovator who loved when projects adapted, which is why he reportedly wasn’t thrilled with The Force Awakens.
“Criticizing Star Wars is fine,” Davies writes. “Criticism is different from blatant bigotry. It’s the latter, in overwhelming measure, that’s striking fear into the hearts of those in charge.”
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