As soon as the first teaser for The Force Awakens debuted back in 2014, certain segments of the Star Wars fanbase lashed out at the casting of a black actor as a Stormtrooper.
The advice that John Boyega received from Robert Downey Jr. (according to Boyega’s comments to GQ) probably couldn’t have come at a better time, because the young Star Wars actor has already faced an incredible amount of adversity during his short time as a member of the beloved franchise.
In these situations, “stability” is key.
He navigated the controversy incredibly well, but the whole issue seems to highlight the fact that he has experienced a tougher road as a new member of the franchise — at least compared to guys like Adam Driver or Oscar Isaac.