Yahoo News Star Wars Twitter faces backlash after 'offensive' post
Star Wars' official social media page has faced a bit of an unexpected backlash after uploading a post which has been accused of making light of a term used by people with PTSD.
The official Twitter account for the sci-fi movie saga uploaded a post attempting to explain why C-3PO didn't say anything about his former master's Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader)'s secrets, during the events of A New Hope.
However, it used the term "Triggered", which can be used to refer to events or stimuli that bring back traumatic memories from events such as sexual assault or psychosis.
So the Star Wars Twitter account said the word "triggered"
People are upset about it. https://t.co/YRQYlJPVGQ pic.twitter.com/UehI2tfaxr- Nick Monroe (@nickmon1112) May 22, 2017
The dictionary definition of this kind of term is: "(Of something read, seen, or heard). Distress (someone), typically as a result of arousing feelings or memories associated with a particular traumatic experience."
While the post received a lot of criticism for its appropriateness, others jumped to its defence, feeling the word was taken out of context and had not been intended to offend.
stop 👏 giving 👏 teenage 👏 boys 👏 social 👏 media 👏 jobs https://t.co/JyMir2qmy9
- Kate Gray 🍁🗝🍁 (@hownottodraw) May 22, 2017
Hey @Disney, that type of joke has some connotations you may want to consider firing the Star Wars social media manager over. https://t.co/YV7jTofmsy
- RAC (@rac2750) May 22, 2017
my twitter feed is full of people shouting at star wars over a deleted tweet.
the fuck you do- 「Ennui, Over Heaven」 (@Cthullhu) May 22, 2017
@KaineofTermina ...oh, hey! Looks like they took my advice and deleted it. The official Star Wars Twitter posted an image of C-3P0 shutting down while...
- RAC (@rac2750) May 22, 2017
@KaineofTermina ...Obi-Wan gives exposition about Anakin's past with a caption saying that he had a failsafe that kept him from divluging his master's...
- RAC (@rac2750) May 22, 2017
@KaineofTermina ...secrets. The tweet itself just read "Triggered."
- RAC (@rac2750) May 22, 2017
@starwars @starwars made a mistake. PTSD is no joke, and it's exactly right now where they can stand up and make a commitment to their fans. Plz do it
- Zan 🤖 (@serswjm) May 22, 2017
why would the star wars twitter even make a trigger joke when they drove away all the shitty nerds when they dared to cast minorities
- the sun chips place (@polyjester) May 22, 2017
Those users who were more defensive felt any offence was unintentional, and that the brand had been bullied into deleting it.
Official Star Wars twitter account was bullied into deleting this completely harmless tweet. 🤦🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/JzsHifVa2L
- THYD Mike (@THYDMike) May 22, 2017
Wow. @StarWars actually deleted a tweet, bc some twitter drama queens think they can appropriate "triggered" for THEIR SOLE & EXCLUSIVE USE
- Rob 👾 (@DigiFluid) May 22, 2017
@starwars I refuse to believe the Star Wars twitter would post something this controversial on purpose. There's gotta be some mistake.
- Victory the Bard (@VictoryDanceOfc) May 22, 2017
@aikii There's gotta be some alternate meaning to this, I refuse to believe the social media person for the Star Wars twit is THAT out of touch
- Victory the Bard (@VictoryDanceOfc) May 22, 2017
@starshipgraves @starwars I'm not 100% sure it was a joke, I could be wrong though but I doubt StarWars official twitter would make that joke with all the controversy
- R3tr0® (@GamingCufufy) May 22, 2017
@nickmon1112 Wish I had no other problems in life so I could get pissy about an inoccuous Star Wars tweet...
- James Mullarky (@jmullarky) May 22, 2017
@ItTimmit @Linsolance_1825 @sonicyoda @starwars Cry me a fucking river its a joke. People joke about insensitive shit all the time.
- Keir Merrick (@keirmerrick95) May 22, 2017
Digital Spy has contacted Star Wars' representatives for official comment.
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