Amandla Stenberg Says ‘The Acolyte’ Being Canceled Was ‘Not a Huge Shock’ After ‘Rampage of Vitriol’ From Toxic ‘Star Wars’ Fans

As a fan who has followed Amandla Stenberg‘s career with admiration, it’s truly disheartening to see “The Acolyte” come to an end due to unjustified backlash and review-bombing. It’s appalling that in this day and age, artists like Stenberg, who bring fresh perspectives and representation to our favorite universes, have to face such vitriol.


Amandla Stenberg isn’t taken aback by the cancellation of “The Acolyte” on Disney+. The main character from the “Star Wars” series, who recently shared thoughts on her Instagram story, expressed reminiscence about the wave of conservative backlash and hostile comments they encountered following their casting.

“In the video, Stenberg candidly admits that the hostile reactions weren’t unexpected. The backlash started long before the show was unveiled, when it was still an idea, triggering a wave of intense conservative prejudice, vitriol, and hate speech directed towards us.”

While “The Acolyte” was largely appreciated by critics, it became the target of a large-scale negative review campaign by some fans, who collectively expressed their disapproval. This tactic is commonly used against productions featuring actors of diverse ethnicities and characters identifying as LGBTQ+. Similarly, the 2017 “Star Wars” film “The Last Jedi” encountered intense backlash from online viewers when it was first released.

“When I initially started this job, it had a significant impact on me. Despite expecting it might happen, I couldn’t truly grasp the emotions until I experienced it personally. But over time, I’ve navigated these feelings in different ways, one of which was speaking up about it myself. Eventually, I realized that to remain true to myself and my values, I needed to openly express myself, even while working for Disney.”

“It’s been a profound privilege and wish fulfilled for me to be part of this cosmos,” they continued. “I can’t hide my disappointment about the series getting terminated. I simply want those who stood by us, those who cheered us on, even amidst the hateful comments and targeted attacks we faced from certain groups – mainly the alt-right – to understand that your support was deeply valued and cherished. This job meant so much more to me because of you.”

“The series ‘The Acolyte’, streaming on Disney+, wrapped up its first season in July. It was announced that this prequel to ‘Star Wars’ focusing on the rise of the Sith, about 100 years before ‘Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace’, would end in August. In the show, Stenberg portrayed twins Osha and Mae who were separated. Despite the season finale ending with a suspenseful cliffhanger and unresolved plotlines, the mixed fan reactions and dropping viewership figures didn’t seem to guarantee a second season.”

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2024-08-29 03:46