Very much doubt they had those people in mind at all. Having a white protagonist is not an automatic appeal to gamergaters/alt right.
Yeah, in a universe filled with aliens, females, poc, of which have largely been untapped into - like EVER as a main character- Having yet another white dude is inherently appealing to those shitty people. Using Rey as a reason to not have another female lead only makes that more clearly the case.
I mean, you don't have to like that that is the case, but to deny it is foolish and harmful to ever get out of having a default white guy in every game always.