Star Trek writer Tawny Newsome faces backlash for implying that criticism of Starfleet Academy is an attack on its young cast.
Arguably, the greatest current Star Trek writer is Tawny Newsome: after voicing the hilarious Beckett Mariner on Lower Decks, she began writing for Starfleet Academy, all while working on a new, live-action Trek comedy. Newsome is a powerhouse writer who helped SFA craft its recent tribute to Avery Brooks, but she ruffled more than a few fandom feathers on a recent podcast appearance. That’s because she basically threw the fans under the bus by implying that anyone criticizing Starfleet Academy is simply hating on the show’s younger performances.
Recently, Tawny Newsome conducted an Ask Me Anything on YouTube, and she discussed the criticism that Starfleet Academy had been getting. “The side of the fandom that enjoys tearing these shows down … they exist. Which is fine,” she said. “But there is something different now with this show, because our cast is so young. And I just want to say: really think about who you are tearing down.”