William Shatner expressed disappointment over the cancellation of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy after its second season. In posts on X, the original Captain Kirk compared current criticisms of the series to backlash against an interracial kiss in the original Star Trek. He defended the franchise's longevity despite not having watched much of the new show.
William Shatner, who portrayed Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series, shared his reaction on X to the news that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will conclude after its upcoming second season. 'It's with sorrow that I hear about the cancellation of the new 'Star Trek' series,' Shatner wrote on Monday evening. He drew parallels to controversy surrounding a kiss between Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura, played by Nichelle Nichols, in the episode 'Plato's Stepchildren' from season 3, episode 10. 'During the first airing of my 'Star Trek' series where a kiss was objectionable; many southern stations pulled the episode & condemned the show,' Shatner noted. He added, 'Using today's vernacular it would absolutely be called 'woke DEI crap' because it went against 'norms' of society for its time. Not a lot seems to have changed.' Shatner admitted he had only seen a few clips of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy but emphasized the franchise's value. 'Star Trek should exist for a long time,' he stated, describing it as existing in 'the fantasy of science fiction' and exploring 'the perfection of human beings' alongside human endeavors. 'It's that aspect of 'Star Trek' that I've always loved,' he wrote, expressing hope for its continuity. Paramount+ renewed the series for season 2 in October 2024 ahead of its premiere, but has not announced a date for that season.