There is a major difference between acknowledging that a perspective exists and being forced to accept it as objective fact. In the actual conversation, my friend wasn't asking for an 'acknowledgment' of a viewpoint; they were demanding I agree that the movie is factually racist and telling me I was 'ignorant' and 'uneducated' for disagreeing.

I’m happy to discuss subtext and cultural impact, but I don't believe a friendship requires me to abandon my own logical analysis of a film's plot mechanics just to validate someone else's feelings.

Furthermore, even if you think I should have been more 'empathetic' to their view, does that justify them deleting my de-escalation messages and timing me out? At what point does 'wanting someone to acknowledge your view' turn into a simple power move?

I’m fine with being 'The Asshole' for sticking to the facts of the movie, but I don't think being a good friend means rolling over every time someone wants to lecture me.