Star Wars fans are accusing retail giant Target of sexism this week, after a T-shirt being sold in the chain’s stores featured an image that was altered to replace Princess Leia with Luke Skywalker.
The original image was taken during a scene in 1977’s Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, when former Jedi Knight and Sith Lord Darth Vader threatened rebel Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) for working with rebel spies.
Watch the scene below:
Franchise fans know the moment well, and were shocked last week upon seeing an image of the famed encounter revised to include Skywalker (Mark Hamill).
The Mirror newspaper gathered an assortment of responses to Target on Twitter, from fans who accused the chain store of being motivated by sexism:
Aww man, Target has swapped out Leia for Luke in classic #starwars scene: http://t.co/h8YCdpylcb (via @TheMarySue) pic.twitter.com/mYfJ6SHjTm
— Patrick Wood (@Pat_Wood) October 15, 2015
@Target is selling a #StarWars shirt where Leia is replaced by Luke. It's a "boy's shirt" now. #IncludeTheGirls pic.twitter.com/rx0kOWMKIt
— Geek (@G33KDad) October 15, 2015
@Target Why don't you put Leia back on that Star Wars t-shirt first? Then we'll talk.
— Kylo Bean (@favomancer) October 15, 2015
@Target you could not have made a more sexist tshirt #starwars. Removing Leia and replacing her with Luke? Shame on you
— Kim Vander Dussen (@wwfan7ana) October 17, 2015
https://twitter.com/krishub/status/655164840571351040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Target responded to the criticism from one Star Wars fan on Twitter Thursday Oct. 15, writing, “It’s never our intention to leave anyone out! We’ll share your thoughts with the right teams.”
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the seventh film in the series, will debut in December.
Early tickets for the film went on sale Monday.
Watch the trailer below:
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