Katie “Star Wars” Girl shows off her Jedi skills.
When we reported about a little girl named Katie being bullied at school liking Star Wars, we knew that our fans would rally to her cause.
Not only did Katie get hundreds of positive comments on her mom’s blog entry about the incident, we got over 500 comments (and they’re still coming) from fans on our own blog entry about why Star Wars is for everyone, not just the fellas.
We asked fans to show support of Katie liking Star Wars with the hashtag #MayTheForceBeWithKatie on Twitter, and thousands of both male and female fans did just that. #MayTheForceBeWithKatie went viral, showing that sometimes the best part of social networking sites is the positive outcome that develops from millions of fans showing a little girl why it’s cool for her to dig Jedi, stormtroopers, droids and everything else awesome from a galaxy far, far away.
Katie w/ Yoda voice actor Tom Kane and a few Star Wars friends.
The fans took it a step further and decided to turn Dec. 10, 2010 into “Support Star Wars and Geek Pride for Katie Day” on Facebook. On this day, fans (both guys and girls) vowed to wear a Star Wars shirt in support of Katie and other little girls who love Star Wars. In addition to the T-shirt support, Katie’s mom also asked that, in light of the season, those with the means donate a Star Wars toy to needy children.
Recently, Katie’s mom talked with The Huffington Post’s Jenna Busch in “May the Force Be With Katie” about the outpouring of positive support from fans, and updated her own column as well with this update — Adopted by the Geeks and Nerds.”
I had no idea about the phenomenon of girl geeks until this happened… when the post started to move around and I started to seeing the comments coming in, I noticed a common theme on the initial wave, which was “Hi Katie. I’m a girl and I love Star Wars and science.” And I saw it over and over. And I was astonished by how many females were out there who were not only supportive of Katie, but plugged into each other. Once one of them heard of what happened to Katie, it seemed like all of them heard! I was thinking to myself, these girls must have some kind of amazing support system going for each other.
This has been one of the first times I have seen something go viral when it’s not about gossip, it’s not about porn, it’s not about somebody having fallen off the wagon for something, it’s not about some catastrophe somewhere. And just to see a story go viral that’s so ordinary… it’s everybody’s story. Everybody, everyone was once a little kid who felt different at some point. It’s funny that it’s become such a sensation, because it’s every story every day about million kids around the country. But at the same time, maybe that’s why it’s such a big deal. It’s so easily identifiable.
Below is a selection of some of our fave photos of fans who tweeted photos of themselves wearing Star Wars shirts in honor of Katie.
Absolutspacegrl from NASA dons a Skywalker Ranch shirt.
Fans do a t-shirt tweet-up in honor of Katie!
Crafty fan Amanda Jean Camarillo shows off her Star Wars t-shirt dress in honor of Katie!
StarWars.com Senior Editor Bonnie Burton at work in a Her Universe shirt!
Check out more photos from Thinkgeek here:
#MayTheForceBeWithKatie Day photos
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More buzz about “May The Force Be With Katie” Day:
- “Vader Doesn’t Like Bullies” - In support of today’s fan-created “Support Star Wars and Geek Pride for Katie” online event, artist Stephen Hayford calls on the big guy to send a message to anyone who thinks Star Wars is just for boys…
- “The Force’ is with you, Katie” – via CNN International
- Wear Your Geek Pride #MayTheForceBeWithYouKatie
- Get your geek girl on – via CNN
- Internet rallies behind teased Star Wars girl – via Yahoo
- Girls Gets Bullied for liking Star Wars – via MSNBC
- You are not cool enough for Star Wars – via io9.com
Art by Stephen Hayford
Tags: Her Universe
star wars <3 go katie I support you little jedi be strong
wish i knew…i <3 star wars too! go girls!
I am a star wars fan and I think it is cool that people support girls who love star wars. Please visit my star wars website at http://starwars333.blogspot.com/
May the force be with you star wars fans of all types!
My little girl and I wore custom Boba Fett t-shirts we made for the hoildays, Daddy wore pink and Bella wore blue in support of Katie and all girls who like Star Wars.
I won numerous games in battlefront 2 for you katie
HOLA !! I’ve been reading all the information about what happened with Katie and I think it is really sad. I have 37 years and also am a father of a girl and a boy. I’m a BIG fan of Star Wars since age 6, so I’ve transferred some of that fanaticism to my children. I have tried to teach them the ways of the force (which are themselves the ways of life, “from a certain point of view”) each has its own lightsaber with color they wanted. What I am saying is that SW is transversal no gender or race you are out of this and we must be tolerant, just as we hope to be tolerant of us. Tolerance as a form of respect with others and with oneself. KATIE POWER! from Chile, South America Maythe force be with you forever.
SO glad Katie found support from the SW family. Children need to feel safe and secure in ANY environment.
Usually bullies are victims turned inside/out that’s why the pick on other children they think are weak…
I hope one day bullying will eventually STOP!!
You go Katie! I love Star Wars. I watch them over and over. You are brave and don’t let anyone else change who you are.
My 5 year old has loved Star Wars since she was 3. She used to go up to girls everywhere and start talking about Star Wars and asking them which character was their favorite. Girls looked at her like she was crazy. But it didn’t stop her from loving Star Wars.
Then she met a girl this summer at the library who loved Star Wars as much as her. It was AWESOME to watch the two of them talk about Plo Koon, General Grievous, etc (yeah, Mommy’s a Star Wars geek from way back!).
And now, as she’s growing up, she’s got just as much to talk about with the boys as she does with the girls. And our boy neighbors love that she can hold her own with a lightsaber.
Girl Star Wars Fans ROCK!
I will be wearing a Star Wars shirt every Friday to help spread the messege to stop bullying. When anyone asks about my shirt I’ll tell them why I’m wearing it. You stay strong Katie. The force is with you and so are about a zillion Star Wars fans.
May the force be with you Katie.
you go girl
Hey katie,i am a boy and i love starwars and i think its kinda cool that a girl loves starwars!dont worry about all the other boys who bully u like that.I also got made fun of liking starwars, but i got over it!!!:)
Hey.I know the feeling of being bullied for being a star wars fan.I’m a huge Republic Commando fan(books and game)and I love Episode 5 The Empire Strikes Back and the Clone Wars.And Because of that,I was looked down upon.People said “You may be a boy,but your a wuss,an idiot,and you’re no man at all”.So I know what it’s like and I say Look for that person that’s like you.I found my fellow Star Wars Fans,and I realized that it’s okay to be a geek.It’s okay to be a jedi or clone on Halloween.Because my friends and I found something in common,and that made us something like the Jedi Order.And we’re still friends. I support you Katie,And I say Star Wars rocks,and is everyone,not just a specific someone.
Katie
Iam a father of 3 girls 12 10 and 6 they all watch Star Wars with me.Every weekend and I am 41 and have been a fan since 1977.Be strong and we are all with you May the Force be with you always young one.
may the force the be with the little jedi
Do whatever you can to be happy. Girls deserve most hight respect. Keep up your efforts, work hard and gain coolness!
Love the graphic. So that is why he killed the younglings.
I really really hate bullying, whether it’s physical or online. The force is very strong with little Katie.
If that diorama could be silk screened into a shirt, I’d totally wear it. Heck, even if it was a polo pull over or something. I think that’s awesome. Katie, if you read this, don’t ever let anyone tell you anything negative about something that makes you happy. Things that you love and enjoy define you. So be you! Ignore anyone that tells you to be someone else. They’re not worth your time or even the honor to be graced by your presence.
Don’t let anyone tell you star wars is only for boys. Because I’m a girl and i love it! STAY STRONG AND MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!
As long as the little one is true to herself, all the bullying will at some point stop.
Katie you have done something that I have never done by saying that u like starwars I have not done that but you have inspired me to say that to my friends thank you =D
hey katie!
i dont know how old you are, but i am a HUGE star wars fan! i have TONS of friends who call me a star wars geek, and i’m proud of it! right now, i am working on choreographing a lightsaber fight with my brothers, and i hope no one bullies you anymore, because if they do, they will have millions of fans backing you up
Always stay true to yourself and keep up the nerdom!
It pays off when you get older. A good example; One night I was out with a bunch of Star Wars friends (all boys) and American Pie came on and we all started singing the Weird Al version, and some guys came up and starting to make fun of us until one of my friends said “yah so? the
hot chick (me) knows all the words too” Boy did it shut those guys up fast
It was definitely amazing to see the outpouring of responses to Katie’s cause. We were all geeky kids once and no one should be made to feel bad about it! Geekstrong!
i felt like that when i was growing up go katie yuor awesome keep liking star wars MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU KATIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey katie I admire your bravery I`m a girl to and I get made fun of by the kids at my school but I`m not as brave as you are i just walk away but you are proud of it and i should be to you made a diffrince for all girls!!!!! MAY THE FROCE BE WITH YOU KATIE YOU RULE!!!!!
May the force be with you Katie!! Its silly that peple are tesing you I’m a girl geek to and in the long run the bulles are going to be the one’s who miss out on evry thing.
Yeah, I’m a chick and I love Star Wars! lol
Me and my brothers watch it all the time!
I have a habit of reffering to it all the time too. It’s funny, especially when my friends are there and look at me funny. Even though I’m 14 I’m still a Star Wars Geek!
Dear Katie,
I’ve loved star wars when I was 5 or 6 and even more now. I always brought star wars books to school to read and watch the movies alot and play games as well. Even though alot of kids at my school may not have been into it either, my last two years of high school more people were in to star wars so your not alone, rock on, girl. Your not alone! and the force will be with you always.
Katie, Star Wars is for smart people! For Jedi and lovely girls like you! You´re not alone, dear!
Hello Katie and i made an account so i can show my support for you liking starwars and don’t let the bullies get you down! You have the WHOLE star wars family to back you up!! i am 13 and i have been a star wars fan sence age 1. There is never any thing wrong with liking star wars!!!
There’s strong
and there’s geekstrong.
aww poor katie ive loved star wars since age 1 im a girl myself and i<3 star wars
i used to be bullied beacouse i liked starwars also……..and im a boy! in my middle school theres not realy that much fans of star wars. but nothing will stop me from loving star wars…….nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hiya, Katie!! I’m 14, I’m a girl, i love being a nerd and Starwars!! And I just wanna say that you are probably MUCH cooler than those boys!! They will end up alone if they keep on bullying, but you will always have tons of support!!!!
Hi Katie. I am a huge star wars fan and now a huge you fan! Stay strong young padawan!
P.S. I am a nerd too… there’s nothing wrong with it
We, girls who love Star Wars are awesome! There’s no reason to be ashamed. I kinda know what it is like to be bullied for that reason, I remember speding lots of time only with boys talking about Star Wars while girls laughed at me and asked me why I didn’t like their stuff instead. I’m 18 now and I don’t regret anything about loving SW.
This is me, on the “May The Force Be With Katie” day: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_la348nPcdH1qa5fsro1_500.jpg
Star Wars Girls Forever!!! <3
Hey Katie, stay encouraged, Star Wars is the ultimate in imagination. Continue to to stay strong and continue to go with what you love. God Bless you
It really warms my heart that there has been so much support for a little girl bullied for liking Star Wars. It kind of makes me wish social networking was a lot more widespread when I, also a girl, was in middle school and was made fun of for my Star Wars binder.
I am proud to say that I did hold strong, thanks to supportive friends and family, and have passed the Star Wars love on to the next generation.
You hang tough too Katie and remember that Leia is as big a hero as Luke and Han.
Consumed by the Dark Side they are, Chosen One you are.
My Respect you have.
joseph is right katie its good you stand up fr yourself BUT KNOCK IT OFF!!!!!!!!!!!
good for you i am a boy and i think girls can like star wars to
Yeah…go katie i support you
Katie: Fear, anger, aggression, these are the Dark side- the way of bullies. Do not give into hate. continue to be a nice person no matter what.
We have all had to face bullies. even bullies have had their own bullies to face. But you be strong and don’t give in to that dark side.
All my friends are Star Wars fans, and the Force binds all us Jedi together.
I wanted to add my voice to all these others and say: Be strong, and the Force will be with you, ALWAYS!!
that is cool!
May the Force be with you Young Padawan. Do not let the Dark Side get you down.
You are a brave girl Katie! Never let anything put your hopes and dreams down. I have also been teased about being a SW fangirl, so your not alone. There will always be girls that like SW and the ones that don’t like it can just go and join the dark side!
May the Force be with you Jedi Katie…always
I just happened upon this story, about a Star Wars Katie, and I too have a Star Wars Katie. She’s 6.5 and has loved Star Wars since she first saw it around age 3. She was teased in both preschool and kindergarten because “Star Wars is for boys.” Now she’s about to start first grade in a new school (we moved to a new state), and I hope we’ve given her enough support and guidance to deal with any teasing that may come her way. At least I can show her all these photos to prove that she’s not alone!