"Star Wars" actor Manny Jacinto argued that there aren't enough Asian people in Hollywood movies and therefore people should write more stories for their own races.Jacinto, who has starred in the heavily criticized "Star Wars" series "The Acolyte," reflected on his time filming "Top Gun: Maverick" in an interview with GQ.He commented on how the majority of his lines were left on the cutting room floor, an outcome he generally connected to the idea that producer and star Tom Cruise is making movies for white people.'At the end of the day, Tom Cruise is writing stories for Tom Cruise.'"It's flattering that there was a little bit of an outcry, but it wasn't shocking to me," Jacinto said regarding his reduced role in the film."There was this sense of where the film was going [on set], like I can see them focusing the camera more on these [other] guys and not taking so much time on our scenes. Fortunately, it still was a great experience — you get to see this huge machine at work, see how Tom Cruise works, and you get to be a small part of this huge franchise," he explained.Jacinto said an experience like that "fuels you" because "at the end of the day, Tom Cruise is writing stories for Tom Cruise.""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.""The Acolyte" seemingly meets those diversity initiatives, according to Jacinto, who said he felt that actors of his race in the "Star Wars" series proved to be meaningful."I know there are plenty of 'Star Wars' fans that look like you and me already [in 'The Acolyte']," he told GQ's writer, who is also Asian. "But it's exciting that in this new iteration we have Lee Jung-Jae, myself, Amandla [Stenberg], [and] Jodie Turner-Smith," he added. "Even more people of color will be able to relate to and celebrate and see themselves in this entity that is 'Star Wars.'""Star Wars" projects that were released during Jacinto's youth — Episodes I-III — were most certainly diverse, but apparently not to the degree that Jacinto found satisfactory."I remember watching all of the movies with my parents growing up, [but] if I'm completely transparent with you, ['Star Wars'] was cool, it was something I admired, but almost from afar. Maybe because I didn't see anybody like me in 'Star Wars,' it was never something I aspired to be in, the way I'd watch a Jackie Chan film or something and go, 'Oh, I want to do that.'"Creator George Lucas addressed this issue of diversity and representation at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival."They would say, 'It's all white men,' [but] most of the people are aliens!""The idea is you're supposed to accept people for what they are, whether they're big and furry or whether they're green or whatever. The idea is all people are equal," he continued, per the Independent. "In the first [movie] there were a few Tunisians who were dark, and in the second one I had Billy Williams, and the [prequels], which they were also criticizing, I had Sam Jackson. He wasn't a scoundrel like Lando. He was one of the top Jedi."Fending off more criticism, Lucas also addressed complaints that the women in his films appeared too typically feminine."You can't just put a woman in pants and expect her to be a hero. They can wear dresses; they can wear whatever they want," he said, noting that female characters were the drivers of the films.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Earlier Tuesday morning, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the Long Island home of a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D), the New York Times reported.Linda Sun's five-bedroom, $3.5 million residence, which she shares with her husband, Chris Hu, is located in the gated community of North Shore.FBI 'conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity.'From September 2021 through November 2022, Sun served as Hochul's deputy chief of staff. Prior to that, she was the deputy superintendent for intergovernmental affairs and chief diversity officer under former Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), the Daily Voice reported. Sun also worked as the chief of staff for Representative Grace Meng (D-New York) when she was a New York Assembly member.A spokesperson for the FBI told the Times that its New York office "conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity" at Sun's home before dawn on Tuesday. The FBI did not elaborate on the nature of the search. Prosecutors from the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney's Office obtained the warrant for the raid, but no arrests have been made, and Sun has not been charged with a crime.WNBC reported that Sun's husband declined to comment when reached by phone. A number of other news outlets noted that Sun did not respond to a request for comment. Hochul's office also did not respond to a request for comment, the Washington Examiner and Crain's New York Business reported.Anything else?In March, the FBI raided the homes of Winnie Greco, a top aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D), Blaze News previously reported. Greco, who worked for Adams for over a decade, was placed on leave following the news of the search. The aide had been probed by the city's Department of Investigation for allegedly using her government position for personal benefit.According to the Associated Press, Greco is at least the third Adams aide to be targeted by the FBI. Late last year, federal agents also searched the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, a top fundraiser for the mayor.Adams is currently facing a federal probe over potentially illegal campaign donations from straw donors. As part of the investigation, FBI agents seized his electronic devices in November. A grand jury is reportedly reviewing all of the evidence, but the mayor has not been charged with a crime. Adams has maintained that he has "nothing to hide."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

There are plenty of strategy games set during the Second World War, but few that reimagine the era through fictional technology or other explorations of alternate history. The recent Wolfenstein FPS games do so, but there are only a handful of strategy entries, like the Valkyria Chronicles and Command and Conquer series, that take the same approach from a different genre. This makes the upcoming Grit and Valor 1949, a mech tactics game in the vein of XCOM 2, Into the Breach, and the First World War inspired Iron Brigade, stand out. And it also makes today's launch of the game's demo well worth looking into. Continue reading XCOM style robot tactics game Grit and Valor 1949 now free to try MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RTS games, Best war games, Best robot games

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The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman can now be ordered with plant-based upholstery made from bamboo. | Image: Herman Miller Can you finally feel guilt-free about buying an iconic piece of furniture that starts at $6,395? For the first time in 68 years, Herman Miller is offering its Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman with a plant-based upholstery option that looks and feels like leather but is primarily made from bamboo. The plant-based fabric, called Banbū, was developed by von Holzhausen and first launched back in 2020 as a durable alternative to both leather derived from animals and vegan leathers made using plastic-based materials like polyurethane. Banbū is made by chopping up bamboo and extracting fibers that are spun into a yarn that can be woven into fabrics. Those fabrics are then treated with a plant-based topcoat sealant, according to von Holzhausen’s... Continue reading…