Mark Hamill and Ted Cruz got in a fight on Twitter, and yes, you read that correctly
This past weekend, social media has once again proven that sometimes real life is stranger than fiction: Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Star Wars actor Mark Hamill got into a fight on Twitter.
The unlikely pair spent some time debating net neutrality and Star Wars while the internet watched. Net neutrality has been a hot topic over the last few weeks. On December 14th, the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality protection policies, and it appears Hamill isn’t a fan of the decision.
The argument started when Hamill, who most recently played Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi, criticized FCC chairman Ajit Pai’santi’s net neutrality video (Pai’santi was appointed FCC chairman by Donald Trump and is a staunch supporter of the repeal). The video attempted to portray the repeal in a positive light by using pop culture references like fidget spinners and Star Wars to prove internet users will still have access to all of their favorite things. Hamill responded by saying, “you are profoundly unworthy 2 wield a lightsaber.”
Cute video Ajit "Aren't I Precious?" Pai
-but you are profoundly unworthy 2 wield a lightsaber-A Jedi acts selflessly for the common man-NOT lie 2 enrich giant corporations. Btw-did you pay John Williams his royalty? @AjitPaiFCCorpShill #AJediYouAreNOTpic.twitter.com/SpIcOEySUY
— @HamillHimself (@HamillHimself) December 16, 2017
In an unexpected twist, Cruz came to Pai’s defense, also attempting to explain net neutrality in the context of Star Wars.
.@HammillHimself Luke, I know Hollywood can be confusing, but it was Vader who supported govt power over everything said & done on the Internet. That's why giant corps (Google, Facebook, Netflix) supported the FCC power grab of net neutrality. Reject the dark side: Free the net! https://t.co/nARkMvIEYk
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 17, 2017
Hamill responded quickly, pointing out that Cruz had misspelled his Twitter handle. He also took a quick jab at the Senator, referencing a scandal from earlier this year when Cruz appeared to “like” a tweet from a pornography account via his official Twitter handle.
Thanks for smarm-spaining it to me @tedcruz I know politics can be confusing, but you'd have more credibility if you spelled my name correctly. I mean IT'S RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU! Maybe you're just distracted from watching porn at the office again
— @HamillHimself (@HamillHimself) December 17, 2017
Cruz went on to apologize for the spelling error, and continued to explain the repeal to Hamill in Star Wars terms.
Yes, that's it. So sorry to misspell your name. Respond not with facts, but with anger. Who was it that said, "Fear is the path to the dark side…fear leads to anger…anger leads to hate"? (1/2) https://t.co/uwMMzgKC1R
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 17, 2017
(2/2) Rather than insults, try civil discussion of facts. Fact 1: until 2015, the FCC had NO authority over Internet. The Net grew free & unregulated. Fact 2: W/ "net neutrality" the FCC declared power to regulate everything said & done on Internet. That's really bad for freedom. https://t.co/uwMMzgKC1R
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 17, 2017
Hamil didn’t reply to Cruz, and has since only tweeted one other statement about the debate where he poked fun at himself for his own spelling error:
My 1st 2018 New Year's Resolution:
Learn how to spell made-up words like "smarm-spLaining".— @HamillHimself (@HamillHimself) December 18, 2017
If this has made you feel passionate about the net neutrality repeal, you can check out ways to resist right here. Oh, and of course, The Last Jedi is in theaters now.
