Stars back John Boyega after Black Lives Matter protest in London
Stars including JK Rowling and Jordan Peele have praised John Boyega for his emotional speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in London on Wednesday.
“Black lives have always mattered,” said the Star Wars actor. “We have always been important. We have always succeeded regardless.”
He paid tribute to African-American George Floyd, who died in police custody on 25 May – but said his comments could damage his career.
Instead, Hollywood offered its support.
“We got you, John,” said Peele, the Oscar-winning director of Get Out.
“Happy to work with you any time, John,” said Harry Potter author JK Rowling, whose third Fantastic Beasts film is currently in pre-production. She tweeted applause emojis in response to his speech.
Boyega, who was born in London to parents of Nigerian descent, observed: “I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this.”
Film maker Matthew A Cherry, who won an Oscar this year for animated short film Hair Love – about an African-American father styling his daughter’s hair for the first time, added his support.
A tearful Boyega, who starred as Finn in the latest Star Wars trilogy, made his comments while addressing demonstrators in London’s Hyde Park.
“I’m speaking to you from my heart,” said the 28-year-old through a megaphone.
“Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process,” he continued
‘Don’t hold back’
“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.
“Black lives have always mattered, we have always been important, we have always meant something and we have always succeeded, regardless.
“And now is the time, and I ain’t waiting.”
Booksmart actress and filmmaker Olivia Wilde was among the first to reply to Boyega’s speech, saying: “Absolutely. I would be honoured to work with John Boyega and can only hope to have the chance. We’ve got your back, John. Don’t hold back.”
‘You are our hero’
Boyega’s Star Wars co-star Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker, tweeted his praise, saying: “Never been more proud of you, John,” signing his message “dad.”
The official Star Wars account added that the series and its producers Lucasfilm “stands with John Boyega and his message that now is the time. Black lives have always mattered”.
“The evil that is racism must stop. We will commit to being part of the change that is long overdue in the world. John Boyega, you are our hero.”
Mr Floyd died in Minneapolis last week after a police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, while three other officers face charges of aiding and abetting murder.
The death has caused protests and sporadic rioting in America, along with global mass demonstrations.
‘Right side of history’
The London protestors later moved from Hyde Park to Parliament Square and Downing Street to make their voices heard.
Writer and producer Jack Thorne, whose credits include the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, also voiced his support.
“I have worked with John Boyega and would cut my hand off to work with him again,” he said, describing Boyega as “a magnificent talent”.
“Yo John Boyega,” posted writer and producer Tracy Y Oliver, “just say the word. Lucky and grateful to have you act in anything I’m working on”. Oliver co-wrote films including 2017’s Girls Trip, which starred Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, and Jada Pinkett Smith.
Actress Yvette Nicole Brown, who starred in US TV series Community and also had a cameo role in Avengers: Endgame, said: “Dear John Boyega, I see you and I love you. Thank you for loving us.”
“And know this, being on the right side of history is better than any paycheck complicit silence would provide,” she added.
“I stand with you. We stand with you.”
