Star Wars’ Kelly Marie Tran will NEVER return to social media after racist trolls bullied her

‘I’ve truly been so much happier’: Star Wars actress Kelly Marie Tran says she will NEVER return to social media after racist trolls bullied her off it when she was cast in The Last Jedi

Kelly Marie Tran has said she is ‘so much happier’ without social media, and doesn’t believe she will ever go back on it.

The actress, 32, spoke candidly about her intentions as she graced the cover of The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday, which saw her discuss being cast in Star Wars as well as her new Disney film Raya And The Last Dragon.

When she was cast in 2017’s The Last Jedi, trolls bombarded her with visceral racist abuse and social media harassment, and forced her to delete all social media.

‘I’ve truly been so much happier’: Star Wars’  Kelly Marie Tran said on Wednesday she’ll NEVER return to social media after racist trolls bullied her off it when she was cast in The Last Jedi

Asked if she’d ever choose to return, she said no as she explained to the publication: ‘I’ve truly just been so much happier without being on the internet.

‘I’ve had my agents tell me [I’m] forgoing brand partnerships, but I’m not here to sell flat-tummy tea to young girls.’

Reflecting on how negative comments on social media impacts her mental health, she went on: ‘For me, that navigation is about how I protect myself in a way where I can continue to work in this world, and continue to lift the stories that I feel like the world needs to hear.’ 

Kelly played plucky Resistance mechanic Rose Tico in The Last Jedi where she was given a prominent role opposite John Boyega’s Finn, she had a markedly smaller role in The Rise Of Skywalker.

Experience: When Kelly (pictured with John Boyega) was cast in The Last Jedi, trolls forced her to delete all social media after receiving visceral racist abuse and harassment

Experience: When Kelly (pictured with John Boyega) was cast in The Last Jedi, trolls forced her to delete all social media after receiving visceral racist abuse and harassment

At the time of The Last Jedi’s release, when Kelly began being subjected to online abuse, John said: ‘If you don’t like Star Wars or the characters understand that there are decisions makers and harassing the actors/ actresses will do nothing. You’re not entitled to politeness when your approach is rude. Even if you paid for a ticket! 

‘To the majority of Star Wars fans thank you for supporting and putting yourselves in our shoes. You understand that there is a process so much appreciated!’

In August 2018, Kelly wrote an empowering editorial piece for The New York Times, in which she hit back at online trolls who made her feel she ‘didn’t belong’.

Candid: Asked if she'd ever choose to return, Kelly said no as she said: 'I've had my agents tell me [I'm] forgoing brand partnerships, but I'm not here to sell flat-tummy tea to young girls'

Candid: Asked if she’d ever choose to return, Kelly said no as she said: ‘I’ve had my agents tell me [I’m] forgoing brand partnerships, but I’m not here to sell flat-tummy tea to young girls’

She wrote: ‘Their words reinforced a narrative I had heard my whole life: that I was “other,” that I didn’t belong, that I wasn’t good enough, simply because I wasn’t like them. 

‘And that feeling, I realise now, was, and is, shame, a shame for the things that made me different, a shame for the culture from which I came from. And to me, the most disappointing thing was that I felt it at all.’

Remaining strong in the face of the abuse, Kelly concluded with the statement: ‘You might know me as Kelly. I am the first woman of colour to have a leading role in a Star Wars movie. 

‘I am the first Asian woman to appear on the cover of Vanity Fair. My real name is Loan. And I am just getting started.’ 

Role: Kelly played Rose Tico in The Last Jedi (pictured) where she was given a prominent role opposite John Boyega's Finn, she had a markedly smaller role in The Rise Of Skywalker

Role: Kelly played Rose Tico in The Last Jedi (pictured) where she was given a prominent role opposite John Boyega’s Finn, she had a markedly smaller role in The Rise Of Skywalker