Star Wars’ Mark Hamill mocks Ben Shapiro’s ridiculous ‘lesbians on the moon’ rant
Star Wars icon Mark Hamill roundly mocked ring-wing pundit Ben Shapiro after he claimed “lesbians on the moon” sounded like “bad pornography”.
Shapiro discussed NASA’s upcoming Artemis I mission to the moon in the latest episode of his podcast, The Ben Shapiro Show. The space agency will make a second attempt at launching its moon rocket on Saturday (3 September) after technical issues foiled an initial attempt.
Shapiro bizarrely equated the cancellation of Artemis I’s initial launch to what he described as president Joe Biden’s “equity agenda”, which would “infuse every area of his administration” including NASA.
He blamed hypothetical Biden-appointed lesbians working for the government space agency for the rocket’s failed first attempt to launch.
This was entirely incorrect, and NASA had already stated the problem was with one of the rocket’s four engines. Shapiro also missed the memo that Artemis I is an uncrewed mission.
“The really important thing is that, when we do go to the moon, we have to have a lesbian on the moon,” Shapiro said before reiterating in a sing-song voice.
“Lesbians on the moon! This is what we need. It sounds like a bad pornography.”
Hamill, who played legendary Jedi Master Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, mocked the right-winger on Twitter for complaining that so-called “lesbians on the moon” was Ben Shapiro’s definition of bad porn.
“To be perfectly clear, please define what sounds like good pornography to you,” Hamill wrote.
To be perfectly clear, please define what sounds like good pornography to you. https://t.co/wmAPg8aA3u
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) August 30, 2022
Many people on social media pointed out how Ben Shapiro’s comments completely ignored the reality that queer people have long been a part of space exploration – many naming Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, who also happened to be a lesbian.
TFW you don’t know the first American woman in space was a lesbian. Sally Ride.
It’s like… learn a thing. ANY thing. https://t.co/LWuhEyynUH— Imani Gandy (Orca’s Version) ⚓️ (@AngryBlackLady) August 31, 2022
Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, was a lesbian. https://t.co/gN0eD8wtvW— Kevin Daly (@kevinddaly) August 30, 2022
The late Sally Ride would like a word.
(Actually, as a woman of character and dignity, she wouldn't stoop to engage with Shapiro.) https://t.co/s5YkmxH2h5— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) August 30, 2022
Does Ben know that lesbians exist in the real world and not just on PornHub?https://t.co/H3pzzfvsId
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) August 30, 2022
If it means getting as far away as possible from Ben Shapiro, I will volunteer for the next lunar mission. https://t.co/01uMLtBYkc— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) August 30, 2022
A lesbian physicist earned the presidential medal of freedom, a NASA space flight medal, the von Braun award, the Lindbergh Eagle and the Theodore Roosevelt award.
Dr. Sally Ride spent over 340 hours in space.
Ben Shapiro is a fucking clown. https://t.co/DScP8JjuZk— Emmett Initiative (@Emm_Initiative) August 31, 2022
https://twitter.com/foushi19/status/1565278087474020353
Sally Ride was the first American woman in space and also likely the first LGBTQ+ person in space. Although it wasn’t revealed until after her death, Ride was in a 27-year long relationship with science writer and professor emerita of school psychology at San Diego State University, Tam O’Shaughnessy.