The Last Jedi Director Rian Johnson Endorses Toxic Star Wars Fan – Ethan Van Sciver Responds!

John F. Trent |

Jun 25, 2019

Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson took to Twitter to endorse toxic Star Wars fan and the Editor at Large for RogerEbert.com Matt Zoller Seitz.

Seitz took to Twitter and stated:

“Feeling a bit cranky today, so I’m going into threads where people unnecessarily talk shit about The Last Jedi and letting them know that I think it’s a classic that only gains from repeat viewings.”

Feeling a bit cranky today, so I’m going into threads where people unnecessarily talk shit about The Last Jedi and letting them know that I think it’s a classic that only gains from repeat viewings.

— MZS (@mattzollerseitz) June 19, 2019

Johnson would overwhelmingly endorse Seitz’s toxic behavior and admission of harassment stating, “I love you.”

I love you.

— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) June 20, 2019

Ethan Van Sciver would respond to Seitz’s original tweet informing him that “The Last Jedi didn’t get repeat viewings. It declined box office wise by nearly $1B vs. TFA.” Van Sciver added, “Because average filmgoers found it cynical and warped. They’re correct. Defending it guns blazing is mentally ill.”

Most films do gain from repeat viewings. The Last Jedi didn’t get repeat viewings. It declined box office wise by nearly $1B vs. TFA.

Because average filmgoers found it cynical and warped. They’re correct. Defending it guns blazing is mentally ill.

Sopranos rules tho. 🐸🤷‍♂️ https://t.co/CuOwJBNLzk

— ComicArtistPro Secrets (@EthanVanSciver) June 23, 2019

From there Seitz and Van Sciver would go back and forth.

The percentage dropoff of the second film in a Star Wars trilogy has been almost identical over the decades. The numbers back me up on this. Surely you must have a better talking points than this. It is demonstrably false.

— MZS (@mattzollerseitz) June 23, 2019

Star Wars critic DataRacer would also weigh in pointing out that The Last Jedi had the “largest week to week drop in box office history.”

I have a better talking point. How do explain away TLJ lost $151M in it’s second weekend? The largest week to week drop in box office history.

Seems like we have actual proof fans didn’t return to see it, vs your anecdotal evidence that “alot of people saw it more than once.” pic.twitter.com/D5IbLSFLHc

— Dataracer (@Dataracer117) June 23, 2019

Van Sciver responded to Seitz

Surely you must have better talking points than “this movie aimed primarily at selling action figures to children is more profoundly amazeballs with repeated viewings.” I’ll tell that to my 8 year old.

People hated the movie. https://t.co/cnv0oA6c2U

— ComicArtistPro Secrets (@EthanVanSciver) June 23, 2019

However, Seitz wouldn’t just take aim at Van Sciver. He also harassed a number of other people as he stated he would.

I wonder if they can help get your mom off of me.

— MZS (@mattzollerseitz) June 23, 2019

Van Sciver would respond telling Seitz to “Go back to Rian Johnson.”

Go back to @rianjohnson and report that you got bitchsmacked by a bunch of YouTubers. 🤷‍♂️🌈🐸 https://t.co/uHFnWSLFrB

— ComicArtistPro Secrets (@EthanVanSciver) June 23, 2019

Seitz would then claim Van Sciver “gave up art for grifting.”

Wow, Ethan. I didn’t know your story until some comics fans told me about it. You gave up art for grifting. That’s tragic. Why did you do it? What an incredible comic that would make.

— MZS (@mattzollerseitz) June 23, 2019

And that’s when Rian Johnson would chime in again, proving that he not only endorses toxic behavior on Twitter, but that he actively participates in it.

Ethan, I can’t hear you. Did you say something?

— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) June 23, 2019

Van Sciver has raised over $885,000 over four IndieGoGo campaigns for his Cyberfrog franchise. His initial campaign for his upcoming Cyberfrog: Bloodhoney graphic novel raised over $538,000 alone. His most recent campaign that includes a new third variant cover for the project has raised over $219,571.

While Van Sciver initially promised the graphic novel would be out to backers in November 2018, it has not shipped yet. However, he regularly provides updates on the artwork and recently stated that the “comic is done.”

My comic is done, weirdo.

My work never is. And my work includes making funny videos dunking on shitty SJW movies. 🐸🤷‍♂️🌈 https://t.co/IbBINgPQxW

— ComicArtistPro Secrets (@EthanVanSciver) June 24, 2019

This isn’t the first time Rian Johnson showcased his toxic behavior. Most notably, Johnson decided to call fans who critiqued his The Last Jedi film as “manbabies.”

Johnson also blamed Star Wars fans for the poor reaction The Last Jedi received. In fact, he decided to label criticism of The Last Jedi as “violent harassment campaigns.”

He would also attempt to make the negative reaction to The Last Jedi political by blaming politics. He went so far as to blame Russian trolls using highly questionable research from Morten Bay.

What do you make of Rian Johnson’s toxic behavior on Twitter? Do you think we will continue to see more of Johnson’s toxic behavior on display as The Last Jedi’s legacy is cemented in failure?