A growing online campaign calling for a Star Wars Celebration boycott has prompted convention organizer ReedPop to issue a public response, as activists accuse the company of indirect ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through its corporate ownership.
While the boycott has generated loud rhetoric online, early indicators suggest it may be producing more controversy than actual impact.
The boycott effort is focused on Star Wars Celebration 2027, which is being produced by ReedPop, the major convention organizer behind events such as New York Comic Con, Emerald City Comic Con, C2E2, and PAX. Activists behind the campaign argue that ReedPop’s ownership structure creates indirect connections to ICE, a claim the company has now explicitly denied.
Why the Star Wars Celebration Boycott Was Launched
The boycott stems from ReedPop’s corporate ownership. ReedPop is owned by RELX Group, which also owns LexisNexis — a data analytics company that critics claim provides tools used by ICE and other federal agencies. Based on that association, activists launched a petition urging fans to boycott Star Wars Celebration unless Disney and Lucasfilm sever ties with ReedPop.
i am calling for Star Wars Celebration to divest from ICE. you can view details at the link below to sign the petition. https://t.co/IFv24wx9Ou #StarWarsDivest #StarWarsCelebration #StarWars
— kelly (@asajjskywalker) January 24, 2026
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As of this writing, the petition has surpassed its initial goal of 1,000 signatures and sits just over 1,200, with organizers attempting to push toward a revised goal of 5,000. However, despite the numerical milestone, broader fan engagement appears limited.
ReedPop Issues Public Statement Denying ICE Data Claims
As attention around the Star Wars Celebration boycott grew, ReedPop issued a formal response across the official social media accounts of several of its major conventions, including Emerald City Comic Con, C2E2, and PAX.
A statement from ReedPop pic.twitter.com/qMpnbg4aaE
— C2E2 (@c2e2) January 28, 2026
In its statement, ReedPop addressed the controversy directly, opening by saying: “We hear you and want to correct some false information that has been circulating on social media.”
The company then issued an explicit denial of the core allegation driving the boycott, saying, “We at ReedPop do not sell customer information to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
ReedPop also sought to distance itself from criticism tied to LexisNexis and its parent company.
“ReedPop/RX operates entirely at arm’s length and independently,” they said.
The statement further emphasized that customer data collected for convention operations is not shared internally for profit or promotional purposes: “None of our data is shared for marketing or commercial use by any other entity within our parent company.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Giancarlo Esposito onstage during the studio panel for The Mandalorian at the Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)
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In addition to addressing the data concerns, ReedPop leaned heavily on familiar industry language regarding its values, stating: “We remain committed to creating safe, inclusive, and welcoming environments.”
The company added that its events are designed for a broad audience.
“Our community is made up of people from different backgrounds and identities,” the statement read.
ReedPop concluded its message by reaffirming its cultural positioning and outreach tone: “We stand by our principles of inclusion and belonging. We see you, we hear you, and all are welcome here.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Kathleen Kennedy attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)
The statement also directed attendees seeking further clarification to its official privacy documentation, noting: “If you want more information on how we collect, use, and protect personal data, please see the RX/ReedPop Privacy Policy.”
Activists Remain Unsatisfied as Demands Expand
Despite the detailed response, several boycott supporters immediately accused ReedPop of dishonesty, arguing that corporate separation does not eliminate indirect benefit through shared ownership.
• This statement is a whole bunch of NOTHING.
• I pulled TPT out of MCM Comic Con SEVEN MONTHS AGO, while others who formerly associated with us, brazenly attended in October ‘25.
• RELX (ReedPop’s Parent Company) STILL HAS A CONTRACT with DHS (& ICE) via… https://t.co/7nKo7QFiBS— ⚡️ GozyuZilla -1.0 ⚡️ (@AshBrdgy) January 29, 2026
Others expanded the scope of their demands, calling for ReedPop to ban artificial intelligence at conventions or prevent federal law enforcement agencies from attending altogether — proposals critics have described as unrealistic for large-scale public events.
Limited Momentum Behind #StarWarsDivest Campaign
Notably, while the petition has grown modestly, the accompanying social media push under the hashtag #StarWarsDivest has struggled to gain traction. Searches across X show relatively few shares, replies, or sustained discussion compared to past fandom-driven campaigns.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Amandla Stenberg onstage during the studio panel at the Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)
While emotions among the most vocal participants remain high, the overall level of engagement suggests the boycott has not resonated broadly with the wider Star Wars fanbase.
Will the Star Wars Celebration Boycott Have Any Real Impact?
At present, there is little indication that the Star Wars Celebration boycott will meaningfully disrupt the event or force Disney and Lucasfilm to reconsider their partnership with ReedPop. Star Wars Celebration remains one of the franchise’s most lucrative fan-facing events, drawing tens of thousands of attendees and serving as a key promotional platform for upcoming films, series, and merchandise.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: James Mangold and Dave Filoni onstage during the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)
While the campaign succeeded in prompting a formal public response from ReedPop, that response appears to be the most tangible outcome so far — with no clear signs of declining attendance or corporate reconsideration.
For now, the Star Wars Celebration boycott appears more symbolic than substantive, driven by a relatively small but vocal online group rather than widespread fan consensus.
Do you think the Star Wars Celebration boycott will gain any momentum? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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Reedpop: never give up, never surrender. Rolling over and showing your belly not only guarantees this behavior escalates in the future but also lets them leverage this victory into a precedent they can use to blackmail other event providers.
I’m no fan of event owners and ticket brokers but I am even less a fan of bullying leftists punishing others for things they cannot control. Which is more likely: the parent company gives up all federal contracts in all subsidiaries OR the capitulate to the demands of divesting so Star Wars celebration can go on? Lose billions to preserve millions?
Plus, how many sprawling organizations WON’T have some connection to the government? For now it is the parent company, but dig far enough and you’ll find innumerable ties. Like “Oh, that CEO once worked for some company who helped some branch of the government so therefore he has to be fired or we won’t go to Comic-Con.”
Nope.
“And even if we did, its none of your concern or business you entitled spoiled brats.”
People will worry about and prioritize this boycott to save the poor squatamalans, but won’t do a thing when Palantir starts monitoring everyone for naughty tweets or a spicy blog post. This is the indictment for why Ameritards deserve everything that happens to them as they stand by slack-jawed and drooling on themselves as they watch the empire crumbles around them. Friendly reminder that there’s no legal thing as hate speech, but I bet by the time this administration ends Zion Don will have made antisemitism a crime.
It’s funny because I join them in their boycott, yet I boycott “them” even more passionately.