Star Wars 7: John Boyega admits he ‘didn’t lose sleep’ over racist criticism of his casting in The Force Awakens

Not losing sleep: John Boyego didn't let racist criticism get him down
Mike Windle/Getty Images
Jennifer Ruby11 December 2015
The Weekender

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John Boyega has spoken out about the racist reaction he received from some fans when he was cast in The Force Awakens.

The British star, 23, who plays Finn in the eagerly-awaited new film, has said that he ‘didn’t lose any sleep’ over the views of narrow-minded people.

Speaking to The New York Times, he said: “It made me feel fine. I’m grounded in who I am, and I am a confident black man.

“A confident, Nigerian, black, chocolate man. I’m proud of my heritage, and no man can take that away from me.

“I wasn’t raised to fear people with a difference of opinion. They are merely victims of a disease in their mind.”

He continued: “To get into a serious dialogue with people who judge a person based on the melanin in their skin?

“They’re stupid, and I’m not going to lose sleep over people. The presale tickets have gone through the roof - their agenda has failed. Miserably.”

Earlier this month fans of the star hit back on Twitter after the Chinese version of the Star Wars posted downsized Boyego’s position.

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