Amandla Stenberg addresses racism and vitriol with The Acolyte cancellation

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Amandla Stenberg addresses racism and vitriol with The Acolyte cancellation

As a longtime Star Wars enthusiast who’s had the privilege of shaking hands with Luke Skywalker himself, I can’t help but feel disheartened by the unfortunate cancellation of The Acolyte and the toxic fan behavior that led to it.

The eight-episode run of “The Acolyte” concluded its first season and did not return for more episodes, causing a split among “Star Wars” enthusiasts. Starring Amandla Stenberg as young Jedi Osha Aniseya, the series catapulted her to household fame. Streaming on Disney+, this series took place before the Skywalker Era and brought a fresh perspective to the “Star Wars” universe. Being the first production in the franchise with leads of color, although it was a progressive move for Lucas Films, Disney, and “Star Wars,” some self-proclaimed fans criticized the change negatively.

Over the course of many years, I’ve been an avid fan of Star Wars, and this year at FAN EXPO Chicago, I had a unique encounter with Mark Hamill. It’s disheartening to see people resorting to excessive criticism just because they didn’t align with certain aspects of the story. The series The Acolyte wasn’t flawless; it could have benefited from stronger writing or perhaps less emphasis on the relationship between Osha and Qimir, as it sometimes overshadowed the original concept. However, these points are inconsequential compared to the harmful behavior exhibited by some fans.

It’s perfectly fine if someone doesn’t appreciate the way a show is organized or particular aspects of a character’s development or personality, as fan communities are meant to stimulate emotional discussions. However, it’s important to remember that harassing or discriminating against an artist for creating a character according to their vision, and in doing so reflecting themselves, is unacceptable. Such behavior is indeed a significant issue.

Stenberg is voicing her thoughts on that problem and why she isn’t allowing it to impact her.

What Amandla Stenberg said about receiving online hate and The Acolyte being cancelled

On August 28th, Stenberg shared on Instagram Stories that although she feels sad about The Acolyte not getting a second season, she wasn’t entirely surprised by this development. She had faced negativity from certain sections of the fandom, and her castmates also experienced similar treatment.

I’m going to be transparent and say it’s not a huge shock for me. 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. That’s when we started experiencing a rampage of, I would say, hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudice, hatred and hateful language toward us.

As a gamer, I can relate to Stenberg’s experience when she joined the Star Wars prequel cast as Osha. Though I hadn’t dealt with a toxic fanbase before, the weight of expectations was immense.

[The abuse] really affected me when I first got the job. Because it’s just not something, even though I anticipated it happening, it’s not something you can fully understand what it feels like until it’s happening to you.

As a believer, I understand the wisdom: Don’t let a gloomy perspective dim your own brightness, no matter what. It won’t bring about a positive mental transformation or help me excel in life. Just like Stenberg, my past experiences serve to enhance me, not discourage me. Even when I was part of the mammoth Walt Disney Company, I didn’t let it discourage me from growing and learning.

However, I feel like I’ve kind of moved through those feelings in various ways, including being vocal about [them] myself. It just became inarguable for me, at a certain point, that in order to continue to be myself, I would have to honor my value system by being vocal, even in the context of working for Disney.

Regardless of the harsh criticism Stenberg encountered, she was rewarded with appreciation and encouragement for her portrayal of Osha. This favorable response transformed her Star Wars journey into something meaningful and worthwhile.

Of course, I’m very sad about [The Acolyte] being canceled. I just want to let those people know out there who supported us in that way and supported us vocally, despite and in the face of all of the vitriol that we received and the kind of targeted attack, I would say, we received by the alt-right, just that you were deeply loved and appreciated. And it made this job all the worthwhile for me.

Why was The Acolyte cancelled in the first place?

The show was taken off the air because of low viewership numbers and negative audience conduct. Although viewership figures are vital in determining whether a series gets renewed, audience behavior shouldn’t play a role. This is because the creators and producers have the final say in how their story should be presented, and viewers can choose to keep watching based on the finished product. Constructive criticism about the execution of the show can help improve it if it’s considered. As fans, we want our shows to excel, but acting uncivilly towards them is not appropriate.

Regardless of personal views, fandoms ought to serve as havens where individuals can freely share their passion for various media, promoting understanding rather than fostering animosity. I strongly prefer seeing acts of compassion spread instead of negative sentiments.

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2024-09-04 01:59