Luke Skywalker himself, also known as Mark Hamill, has defended a young Star Wars fan who was told the franchise was “for boys" and not girls.
Kristal Foster tweeted last February that her five-year-old daughter Gabby had worn Star Wars shoes to school, only to be told by a classmate they were not suitable for girls.
Mark Hamill tweeted on Thursday defending the choice of footwear.
I think Luke & Han are lucky Leia took over their "rescue" on the Death Star or it would've been a very short movie. https://t.co/GFauW2LBEE— Mark Hamill (@Mark Hamill)1578530045.0
“I think Luke and Han are lucky Leia took over their 'rescue' on the Death Star, or it would have been a very short movie," he said.
Star Wars is one of the few franchises, especially in sci-fi, that not only features complex female characters, but they are main characters that lead the storyline.
“My daughter is a huge fan and I love the response from Mark Hamill. For one thing, it is accurate — without Princess Leia, the movie is over before it starts," Foster told the PA news agency. “But it put a smile on my daughter's face. She was in awe that a Jedi master weighed in on the matter. She was ecstatic and her joy was palpable."
Leia was an inspiration for many.
@HamillHimself @ThinklingsBooks Wow thanks to her I was able to be strong while I was growing up in a really hard c… https://t.co/o0pNepiJdM— JacquelineJ (@JacquelineJ)1578606261.0
Many joined with their own stories.
@HamillHimself @jordanhopejohns We are a #StarWars family with 3 girls and then our boy! https://t.co/fBanQlvPFS— Rachel Mandrelle (@Rachel Mandrelle)1578616929.0
@HamillHimself Star Wars truly is for everyone. These amazing films saved my life & I'm forever grateful ❤️💖🥰💕 P.S.… https://t.co/wvBQmXhSiA— Kate 💖 (@Kate 💖)1578590094.0
And these two girls are showing us how it's done.
@HamillHimself My daughter Khaleesi had this same argument with a boy at school so for the next week she went to sc… https://t.co/5UJQxbChAC— lucy jerwood (@lucy jerwood)1578567657.0
@HamillHimself My daughter. She designed the helmet and gauntlets in CAD software, 3D printed and assembled the par… https://t.co/qdMC1gQ1nQ— Christen Lofland (@Christen Lofland)1578590343.0
"It was wonderful," Foster continued. "That tweet is from a year ago, however it is not the first time he has replied. He has also posted it on other social media outlets. I am always surprised when he replies!"