"The Acolyte" won't be back for a second season. Sensible business decision ... or sabotage?Some vocal defenders of the recently canceled Disney+ series seem to be suggesting the latter. 'Disney seems to be quietly killing off their "progressive audience" shows like "Acolyte." The numbers are no longer sustainable.'Rolling Stone magazine lays the blame on "the worst" of "Star Wars" fans. Meanwhile, an online petition to bring back the show attributes its copious negative reviews to “a small fraction of loud trolls.”Occam's lightsaberBack here on Earth, all signs point to a simpler explanation: People just didn't watch it. The "Star Wars" series got off to a decent start with audiences, boasting 4.8 million views for its first two episodes combined. Disney crowed that it was the biggest premiere on Disney+ in 2024. Technically true, but not so impressive when you realize only two other shows debuted on the platform this year. Plus, adding up viewer numbers for two episodes is a bit of a cheat. Despite this initial hype, viewership for "The Acolyte" steadily trailed off in the subsequent weeks.Deadline reported that inside sources learned of the cancelation after just eight episodes, about a month after the season wrapped up.'Please clapThe show's future seemed to be in jeopardy when director and creator Leslye Headland asked viewers in July to support the show and share it with friends even if they thought it was mediocre. "Even if you were kind of like 'whatever' on the show, if you enjoyed the performances, get on their social media, let them know that you love them, or that you support them or that the performances were great."Game designer and media critic Mark Kern told Align that he thought the cancelation was a signal of an upcoming pivot on the part of Disney."Disney seems to be quietly killing off their 'progressive audience' shows like 'Acolyte.' The numbers are no longer sustainable," Kern said. "I believe the pivot is happening and new shows in development will begin to focus on story and quality instead of promoting a message."A bad rapIt didn't help Disney that actors involved with "The Acolyte" were consistently in headlines for all the wrong reasons, particularly series lead Amandla Stenberg.Critics of the series inspired Stenberg to release a hip-hop diss track aimed at her oppressors. The young actress spit bars condemning slavery and its effect on her psyche. "I'm sick and f***ing tired of suppressing my rage. 400 years of taking their bulls*** to compartmentalize like my ancestors had to encaged," she rapped."If you don't confront the pain that you live with it'll manifest as addiction, disease, and hate. I've seen the infection repression can give ya, I'm not gonna be the next one sent to an early grave," she concluded.Separately, co-star Manny Jacinto gave remarks in late July about being cut out of a different project, Tom Cruise's "Top Gun: Maverick."Jacinta said it "wasn't shocking" that his scenes were cut out given the fact that Cruise had written a movie for himself, but strangely, the lesson he took from the experience was that non-white people in Hollywood need to pursue making movies that are specifically for their race."It's up to us — Asian-Americans, people of color — to be that [for ourselves]. We can't wait for somebody else to do it. If we want bigger stories out there, we have to make them for ourselves."Lesbian Force witchesIt wasn't only off-screen behavior that spoiled "The Acolyte;" creator Headland sought to fundamentally change "Star Wars" lore by introducing a litany of progressive characters who brought with them previously unheard of explanations of the Star Wars universe.The biggest change in the story was the idea that The Force was controlled by a coven who could — and did — perform an immaculate conception for a duo of lesbian witches.The consistent injection of far-left dogma into the story, which Stenberg described as "so gay already," didn't appear to be quite what fans were looking for."It is good news that this show was cancelled," said John F. Trent, editor of culture and gaming site That Park Place."It prevents Leslye Headland and her conspirators from doing even more damage to Star Wars by changing the Force, injecting feminism, and attempting to subvert morality."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The French government is facing criticism from free speech advocates after the CEO of Telegram was arrested and the head of Rumble said he fled Europe out of caution. Pavel Durov is known as the billionaire founder of the encrypted private messaging app Telegram that has become one of the most downloaded apps in the world and is especially popular in Russia. After local reports indicated that Durov had been arrested, authorities were accused of trying to stamp out free speech. 'Darkness is descending fast on the formerly free world.' On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the arrest but denied the accusations that the government is acting unjustly. "I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov," he wrote in English on social media. "France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so," he said in part. "The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter."Macron offered few details about what charges Durov might face, and the French authorities have been very secretive about why the investigation justified the Russian-born founder's arrest. Vague statements from police indicate that it may have to do with potential lack of moderation on the platform and criminal acts committed on the app. 'Rumble will not stand for this behavior.' Chris Pavlovski, the CEO of the video-sharing application Rumble, responded to Durov's arrest by fleeing Europe as a precaution against his possible arrest. "I’m a little late to this, but for good reason — I’ve just safely departed from Europe," wrote Pavlovski on social media Sunday. "Rumble will not stand for this behavior and will use every legal means available to fight for freedom of expression, a universal human right. We are currently fighting in the courts of France, and we hope for Pavel Durov’s immediate release."In a separate statement Monday, he responded to Macron's defense of the arrest. "When you say you are committed to freedom of expression, you are lying. We have a letter from France that proves this, without a doubt. We had to shutdown [sic] Rumble in France because you have NO committment [sic] to freedom of expression," Pavlovski wrote. Among those criticizing France was former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. "Pavel Durov left Russia when the government tried to control his social media company, Telegram. But in the end, it wasn’t Putin who arrested him for allowing the public to exercise free speech. It was a western country, a Biden administration ally and enthusiastic NATO member, that locked him away," Carlson said Saturday on social media. "Pavel Durov sits in a French jail tonight, a living warning to any platform owner who refuses to censor the truth at the behest of governments and intel agencies. Darkness is descending fast on the formerly free world," he added.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Republican Party of Arizona filed a lawsuit against Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D) on Thursday, claiming that two of her executive orders “unlawfully” and “unilaterally” altered the state’s existing election laws.Arizona GOP chair Gina Swoboda sued Hobbs over Executive Order 23, Authorizing the Use of State Facilities as Voting Locations, and Executive Order 25, Facilitating Voter Registration.'Blatant overreach of her authority.'Hobbs issued the orders in November 2023. Executive Order 23 designated the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections and the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry, as well as other state-run agencies, as ballot drop-off locations. Executive Order 25 designated those state departments as “Voter Registration Assistance Agencies” that are to “distribute voter registration forms, assist applicants in completing voter registration forms, and accept completed voter registration forms.”According to the lawsuit, Hobbs “exceeded, and is therefore unlawfully exercising, her authority as Governor, in issuing EO 23 and EO 25.” It argued that both executive actions are “unconstitutional and void.”“Petitioners seek to enjoin Governor Hobbs from enforcing EO 23 and EO 25 on the grounds they exceed the powers granted her by the Arizona Constitution and Arizona statutes, violate the separation of powers regarding the Legislature’s authority to enact election laws; and usurp the powers lawfully granted to the Secretary of State regarding the designation of Voter Registration Agencies and county recorders regarding ballot drop-off locations,” the complaint read. “EO 23 and EO 25 are contrary to law because, in issuing these executive orders, the Governor usurped the authority of the Legislature by unilaterally changed duly-enacted election laws.”It noted that the orders fail to address other “important issues,” including “where to store completed ballots until they can be sent to the appropriate election officials or keeping a chain-of-custody log for these completed ballots.” The lawsuit, which was filed directly with the Arizona Supreme Court, requests that the court declare the two executive actions unconstitutional, prevent Hobbs from enforcing the orders, and “issue a writ of quo warranto to prohibit Governor Hobbs from unlawfully exercising authority she lacks to change election laws.”In a video posted to X, Swoboda explained, “The governor’s office does not have the authority, under the constitution or under any statutory authority, to designate voter registration agencies and definitely not to designate ballot drop-off locations or voting locations.”She called the governor’s actions a “blatant overreach of her authority,” the Arizona Capitol Times reported.Liliana Soto, a Hobbs press aide, told the news outlet that the lawsuit was “frivolous” and claimed the governor was using her “lawful authority” to protect voting rights. Hobbs’ general counsel, Bo Dul, argued that the executive orders “further the important goals of increasing Arizonans’ access to voter registration.”Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The New Republic Goes Full Green-Eyed Monster, Says Billionaire Elon Musk Is 'Not Very Good at Anything'

Democrats' Attempt to List 'Wins' By the Biden/Harris Administration Only Makes Things WORSE for Kamala

We Regret to Inform You Hakeem Jeffries Is LYING AGAIN About Trump, Abortion, and Project 2025

Full Circle: Former Democrat Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard Endorses Trump

JD Vance Expertly Lays Out the Most Glaring Problem With Kamala Harris' Campaign

DNC Volunteer Finally Gets It, Says She Cannot Support Kamala, Not Sure If She Is Still Even a Democrat

The Secret Service stopped providing protection for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after the independent presidential candidate suspended his campaign last week.