Current:Home > Invest'The Acolyte' star Amandla Stenberg slams 'targeted attack' by 'the alt-right' on 'Star Wars' show -WealthRoots Academy
'The Acolyte' star Amandla Stenberg slams 'targeted attack' by 'the alt-right' on 'Star Wars' show
NovaQuant View
Date:2025-04-10 08:03:29
Amandla Stenberg is addressing a recent disturbance in the Force.
The "Acolyte" star, 25, spoke out Wednesday about the cancellation of the Disney+ "Star Wars" series in a video on her Instagram story, saying the news was "not a huge shock for me."
"For those who aren't aware, there has been a rampage of vitriol that we have faced since the show was even announced, when it was still just a concept and no one had even seen it," Stenberg said in the video. "That's when we started experiencing a rampage of I would say hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudiced hatred and hateful language towards us."
The actor continued that this backlash "really affected me" at first because even though she expected it, it's "not something you can fully understand what it feels like until it's happening to you." But she added that she has "kind of moved through those feelings in various ways."
Created by Leslye Headland, "The Acolyte" starred Stenberg in dual roles as a former Jedi Padawan and her twin sister. It took place 100 years before the events of the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, a time at which the Jedi were at their height, and was the first of the franchise's shows to be created by a woman.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
The response to "The Acolyte" was mixed among critics and fans. But the show also generated online backlash targeting its diverse cast, some of which started prior to its premiere.
'Star Wars' bosscalls out 'male dominated' fan base's 'personal' attacks on women stars
"The Acolyte" was canceled by Disney+ on a cliffhanger that explicitly set up a second season and teased the introduction of a fan-favorite character, Darth Plagueis.
On Instagram, Stenberg said she is "very sad" about the cancellation but still feels "a lot of levity and joy" around the fact that she had the experience, calling it an "incredible honor and dream" to be in a "Star Wars" show. She also thanked fans who supported the series amid the "targeted attack we received by the alt-right."
New 'The Acolyte' trailerfor May the 4th, plus 'Star Wars' movies, TV shows in the works
After the cancellation, Stenberg's Instagram was flooded with hateful comments celebrating the news and accusing the show of being "woke," while other fans sought to counteract this negativity with positive messages praising her performance and the show. "Man I'm so embarrassed by this fandom sometimes," one comment on Stenberg's Instagram read. "Hope you're doing well and know that you have a lot of support from fans, too!"
There has been a history of people of color joining the "Star Wars" franchise and facing racist backlash from fans, including sequel trilogy star John Boyega and "Obi-Wan Kenobi" actor Moses Ingram. After Ingram received racist abuse following the debut of the Disney+ series, Ewan McGregor came to her defense in a social media video.
"We love Moses," McGregor said. "And if you're sending her bullying messages, you're no 'Star Wars' fan in my mind. There's no place for racism in this world. I totally stand with Moses."
Boyega recently showed support for Stenberg amid the "Acolyte" cancellation news. In a comment on her most recent Instagram post, the Finn actor shared a GIF of Han Solo giving a salute.
veryGood! (29411)
Related
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Las Vegas will blow a kiss goodbye — literally — to the Tropicana with a flashy casino implosion
- Hoda Kotb Reveals the Weird Moment She Decided to Leave Today After 16 Years
- Toyota pushes back EV production plans in America
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- A former aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams is charged with destroying evidence as top deputy quits
- Red and green swirls of northern lights captured dancing in Minnesota sky: Video
- Is Your Company Losing Money Due to Climate Change? Consider Moving to the Midwest, Survey Says
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Should you give your dog gluten-free food? How to tell if pup has an intolerance.
Ranking
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- From prepped to panicked: How different generations feel about retirement
- 3 killed when a medical helicopter headed to pick up a patient crashes in Kentucky
- Harris calls Trump ‘incredibly irresponsible’ for spreading misinformation about Helene response
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- A former aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams is charged with destroying evidence as top deputy quits
- Hoda Kotb Reveals the Weird Moment She Decided to Leave Today After 16 Years
- What are legumes? Why nutrition experts love TikTok's dense bean salad trend
Recommendation
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Flaming Lips member Steven Drozd's teen daughter goes missing: 'Please help if you can'
Sally Field recounts her 'horrific' illegal abortion in video supporting Kamala Harris
Airline Issues Apology After Airing NSFW Dakota Johnson Movie to Entire Plane During Flight
2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
Former No. 1 MLB draft pick Matt Bush arrested for DWI after crash in Texas
Kyle Richards Influenced Me To Add These 29 Prime Day Deals to My Amazon Cart
Funny Halloween memes to keep you howling through spooky season 2024