Pizzeria honors Carrie Fisher by giving free slices to 'Star Wars' cosplayers

NEW YORK, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A New York pizzeria is honoring the memory of Carrie Fisher by doling out free slices of pizza to customers who come in dressed as Star Wars characters.

Champion Pizza in Manhattan teamed with the NYC Star Wars Fans group to hold a 48-hour event, beginning at 11 a.m. Wednesday, honoring Fisher, who played Princess Leia -- later General Leia Organa -- in the sci-fi franchise.

A spokesperson for NYC Star Wars fans said Champion Pizza owner Hakki Akdeniz expects to give out 10,000 free slices to customers in Star Wars garb during the event.

"A tribute has never been done like this before in New York," the spokesperson told Metro. "Carrie was an icon that touched the lives of millions and Star Wars has united people around the world."

The spokesperson said Akdeniz feels a personal connection to the Star Wars films and their late star.

"[Akdeniz] grew up in Turkey as a huge Star Wars fan. He even learned English from watching Star Wars and met [Fisher] one night when he first came to the United States and was serving slices in a pizzeria near Broadway," the group representative said.