Star Wars director JJ Abrams says he'll 'beg' to work with John Boyega after BLM speech
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker director JJ Abrams has responded to John Boyega's vow that he will risk his career to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Finn actor gave a powerful speech to protestors at a London rally for Black Lives Matter this week, addressing the tragedy of George Floyd, a Black man, who died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes, despite Floyd saying that he couldn't breathe.
"I'm speaking to you from my heart," he told them through tears. "Look, I don't know if I'm going to have a career after this, but f**k that. Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process.
"We don't know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don't know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we're going to make sure that won't be an alien thought to our young ones."
In response to his powerful words, Boyega received support from both of his former Star Wars directors — with JJ Abrams making it clear that he would work with him again in a heartbeat.
"You KNOW that as long as I’m allowed to keep working, I’ll always be begging to work with you. Deep respect and love, my friend," he tweeted.
The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson also retweeted footage of the actor's speech, adding: "Love this man."
You KNOW that as long as I’m allowed to keep working, I’ll always be begging to work with you. Deep respect and love, my friend. https://t.co/DcMEwEmzh9
— JJ Abrams (@jjabrams) June 4, 2020
Star Wars production company Lucasfilm stood behind Boyega as well in a statement, breaking from its usual stance as a largely apolitical organisation.
"The evil that is racism must stop," the Lucasfilm statement read. "We will commit to being part of the change that is long overdue in the world. John Boyega, you are our hero."
Lucasfilm's parent company, the Walt Disney Co, has pledged to donate $5 million to help social justice group the NAACP fight "disparities and racial discrimination through their advocacy and education programs".
For more information on how you can support Black Lives Matter, please visit its official website or donate here. Readers can also donate to the UK anti-discrimination group Stand Up To Racism, and the Unite Families & Friends Campaign, which supports those affected by deaths in police, prison and psychiatric custody.
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