Star Trek: Starfleet Academy star Karim Diané, 23, is opening up about the messages he has gotten about his character, Klingon Starfleet cadet Jay-Den Kraag.
In a February 25 Instagram upload, Diané referenced Jay-Den “is the first gay Klingon in Star Trek ‘s entire 60 year history.” He said that quite a few social media users have responded to Jay-Den by sending him messages that are “extremely negative and just very homophobic, racist, and some of them even scary.” The actor stated that he will not directly respond to said messages.
“I never respond to negativity. It’s not what I’m interested in at all,” said Diané in his Instagram video.
He let Star Trek fans know that he has also received “so many positive, inspiring, beautiful messages” about Jay-Den and the Klingon’s impact “from all kind of people, from all around the world.”
“They’ve been so beautiful to read, and they really reminded me why I’m doing what I’m doing. They are the comments that you will see me engaging with. And that’s that,” said Diané in the video.
He also stated that he is focusing his energy on the kind messages, instead of the negativity that he’s received.
“It makes me nervous to be this vulnerable online. But I think it’s important to share what this experience actually looks like from my perspective,” read the post’s caption.
Several ‘Star Trek’ Fans Shared Their Support for Karim Diané
Quite a few fans shared their support for Diané and his Star Trek: Starfleet Academy character in the post’s caption.
“I am enjoying Starfleet Academy, and I enjoy watching you and your character develop. Keep up the awesome job! And thank you for being a part of my joy in Star Trek,” wrote a commenter.
“You’re an inspiration to both old and new trek fans. I always thought the show was about identifying with the characters. A show that has been inclusive for 60 years is always improving on that. It’s a joy watching u and your legacy will last forever,” shared another.
“You and Jay-Den are what Star Trek has ALWAYS been about. Whatever the haters think they’re fans of, it isn’t Trek. I always think about how proud of you Nichelle [Nichols] would be. We’re lucky to have you AND Jay-Den in the family! Keep making history,” commented a Star Trek fan.
‘Star Trek’ Star Robert Picardo Addressed the Criticism
Actor Robert Picardo, who co-stars with Diané in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, addressed the criticism toward the newer Star Trek shows during a January 2026 interview with Reel School. Picardo, who became a star of the sci-fi franchise in 1995 when his character, The Doctor, first appeared in Star Trek: Voyager, said that Star Trek: The OriginalSeries, which ran for three seasons until 1969, “was founded during the turbulent ’60s at a moment of real cultural and political turmoil.” In addition, he said that Star Trek is about diversity and inclusion.
“Star Trek is as diverse and inclusive as it has ever been, as it should be. Because Star Trek leads. Science fiction dreams the dream and then science catches up with the dream. Star Trek leads our imagination and posits a better future,” said Picardo during the interview.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy began airing in January 2026.
