Why Anakin Skywalker should’ve been removed from the Jedi Order for sexual harassment

In anticipation of the Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie release, like many others, I’ve been rewatching the series. To my horror, while viewing Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones, I realized that Anakin Skywalker (even before overtly becoming evil) was a sexual predator in the workplace! 

Skywalker's role in the destruction of the Jedi Order and the establishment of the Galactic Empire is the impetus for the ensuing movies in the franchise. There would be no bad guys in a majority of the films if the Jedi Order had removed a workplace predator from their ranks. 

While this may have happened a long time ago in a galaxy far far away, it deserves to be called out now. By allowing a predator in the workplace, and not doing enough to fight sexual harassment, the Jedi Council ultimately engineers its own demise.

Members of the Jedi Council should’ve removed Skywalker from the Jedi Order after his many missteps while protecting Sen. Padmé Amidala. If they had, Chancellor Palpatine would have been unable to leverage Skywalker into destroying the Jedi Order, dismantling democracy and creating the first Galactic Empire.

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Strike 1

Skywalker, who is officially assigned to protect Amidala from an assassination plot, begins crossing professional and personal boundaries as soon as he’s alone with her. While Amidala is packing her bags for a long trip with her state-appointed protector, Skywalker starts making inappropriate advances. She flat out tells him, "Don't look at me like that," because "it makes me feel uncomfortable." He simultaneously offers a facetious apology and undermines her own position of authority over him.  

Skywalker has already overstepped his boundaries in a professional setting. She calls him out on it, and it should be the end of the story. But he insists on harassing Amidala for the duration of the film, making her feel, at turns, uncomfortable and unsafe.

Strike 2

Even during meals, Skywalker is relentless in his pursuit of Amidala. She attempts to make light conversation about Skywalker's Jedi vows, but he uses this polite discussion as an opportunity to pounce, declaring that he can’t be “with the people I love.” He immediately follows this up by confessing to her that he remembers her in his dreams. Skywalker is telling an elected official, who is obligated to be in his presence, that he has been dreaming about her.

It’s an unhealthy obsession — not anything close to love. And where can Amidala go? Her life is in danger, and she has no choice but to stay with Skywalker, who is at turns her protector and her predator. On top of all of this, Skywalker has supernatural powers — he’s one of the strongest beings in the entire galaxy. Talk about a power dynamic!  

Strike 3

Skywalker, who is still a Padawan learner and not yet a Jedi knight, isn’t content with threatening Amidala's sexual agency, but insists on undermining her professional authority as well. On her home planet of Naboo she discusses with the queen where she would like to stay while in hiding. Skywalker takes this moment, in front of an assortment of nobility and elected officials, to throw a tantrum and assert his dominance by telling her that he’s “in charge of security.”

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Later, when they’re alone, Skywalker decides to confront her with his feelings. He tells her that since they met (when he was a child), “a day hasn’t gone by when I haven’t thought of you.”

That’s just plain creepy!

Strike 4

Then he places the blame on her — because of course a woman can’t exist professionally without it threatening some self-centered man. He tells her, “You are in my very soul, tormenting me. What can I do?” Um, how about realize this is a you problem and let Amidala live her life?

It’s shocking that the Jedi Council, or at least some of its members, like Masters Yoda and Windu, didn’t know about these flagrant violations of professional and personal boundaries. After all, can’t they use the force?

The Jedi Council's inability to remove a toxic, misogynistic predator from its ranks ultimately brings about its downfall — when Anakin Skywalker joins the dark side and becomes Darth Vader. Maybe if the Jedi were more concerned with gender equality, and less concerned with balancing the force, then they would still be around today.

Hayden Frye is a communications specialist in Washington, D.C. You can follow him on Twitter @LifeofFrye