Lee Jung-jae faced racial backlash for his role in 'The Acolyte,' which shows the darker side of toxic 'Star Wars' fandom.
Jodie Turner-Smith criticized Disney for its silence on racist harassment.
Ahmed Best, who portrayed Jar Jar Binks, revealed that similar hate nearly drove him to suicide.
When an actor appears on screen, they come along with much more than just a role. They often carry the expectations and sometimes even the emotional baggage of the audience, especially if they are the fans of a cult franchise like Star Wars.
Lee Jung-jae in The Acolyte | Credit: Disney+
With The Acolyte becoming Disney’s latest Star Wars series, it also became a lesson in how toxic fandom can turn a creative passion into a subject of hate. Lee Jung-jae, who was doing his first English-speaking role, recently revealed how the reaction he faced was unexpected for him.
Lee Jung-jae Reveals the Dark Side of The Acolyte‘s Criticism
Lee Jung-jae in The Acolyte | Credit: Disney+
The Acolyte was supposed to be something different within the Star Wars universe. Taking place about 100 years before The Phantom Menace, the series shows the Jedi Master’s investigation of crimes before the Skywalker saga. Lee Jung-jae is featured as Sol, who is a Jedi Master. He is the first Asian actor to land such a role in any Star Wars project.
The show cast diverse actors and actresses such as Amandla Stenberg, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Manny Jacinto, and was created by Leslye Headland. But this idea of diversity seemingly worked as a trigger for racism. It was seen that some toxic fans started a hate campaign that took shots at the race and the portrayal of actors.
Although he knew about the hardcore fan following of Star Wars, Jung-jae was “shocked” by the racial hate. In an interview with Vanity Fair, he said, “My feelings were hurt…Especially for Leslye Headland—her feelings must have hurt a lot.”
Jung-jae hopes that “racism will end someday” and believes “all things will work out” as long as he remains “thankful.” Talking about the burden of fans getting too personal with their criticism, he said, “Then I should quit my job. I shouldn’t think that way in dealing with fans.” He further added,
Fandom comes along with my career. This is the nature of it, so I can’t take it for granted. No matter what, I’m always thankful.
Netizens have reacted to Jung-jae’s comments, calling out the toxic fans and the extreme form of negativity.
the star wars fanbase will always be one of the worst fanbases on the planet
However, his co-star Jodie Turner-Smith did not hold back her criticism. She felt Disney did not respond to the racist harassment directed at her from the toxic fandom. In an interview with Glamour, she said,
They’ve got to stop doing this thing where they don’t say anything when people are getting f*cking dog-piled on the internet with racism and bullsh*t. It’s just not fair to not say anything. It’s really unfair.
The Acolyte also suffered a viewership decline as it progressed. The show is rated 78% by critics and only 18% by the audience on Rotten Tomatoes. By August 2024,season 2 was canceled, and several characters’ arcs were left unresolved.
Hate Drove Ahmed Best to the Brink
Ahmed Best | via Ahmed Best’s Instagram
This racist reaction to The Acolyte is not the only incident in the Star Wars franchise. Ahmed Best, who played Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars prequels, had probably the most heartbreaking experience with intense backlash.
Best was only 25 at the time he was introduced in The Phantom Menace, where he received attacks unlike anything else. Toxic fans downplayed his character, branding it as a childish caricature and a racist stereotype among the worst they could think of.
The attacks were so terrible that Best began to think about committing suicide. According to BBC, Best shared his traumatic experience on social media where he said,
20 years next year I faced a media backlash that still affects my career today. This was the place I almost ended my life. It’s still hard to talk about. I survived and now this little guy is my gift for survival. Would this be a good story for my solo show? Lemme know.
George Lucas himself came in support of Best when he said (as per BBC),
How in the world you could take an orange amphibian and say that he’s a Jamaican? It’s completely absurd. Believe me, Jar Jar was not drawn from a Jamaican, from any stretch of the imagination.
The experience of Lee Jung-jae, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Ahmed Best highlights that behind every character, there exists a person who also has a right to be treated with dignity and respect.
All Star Wars shows and movies are streaming on Disney+.
