In an Instagram post, Best shared his support for Stenberg, saying “I will always stand in solidarity for artists who give 110% to their work and art. Keep shining queen.”
Best has a long history of speaking out on controversies that he feels personally connected to, particularly with regard to Star Wars, so his support for Stenberg isn’t particularly surprising. In the past, Best has spoken out about his experience as a motion capture artist, as a Black actor and the struggles he faced in Hollywood, and more. His support for Stenberg and The Acolyte is even less surprising when considering his own experiences of racism and hatred from his time in Star Wars.
Ahmed Best Knows The Dark Side Of Star Wars Too Well
Though he’s now a beloved part of Star Wars, Ahmed Best had a much rockier introduction to the franchise. He made his Star Wars debut in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, where he played the clumsy Gungan Jar Jar Binks. Unfortunately, many viewers at the time absolutely despised Jar Jar for his “childish” brand of humor and “annoying” voice. Unfortunately, some viewers extended that hatred for Jar Jar to Best himself, and unrelentingly harassed him for his role in the film.
The hatred and vitriol Best received for playing Jar Jar had a serious effect on him. Best has mentioned that the backlash from The Phantom Menace was the lowest he ever felt in his life, and that he even briefly considered suicide due to the hatred (via The Hollywood Reporter). Luckily, Best has been welcomed in by a new generation of Star Wars fans, and he was even able to play a live-action Jedi in The Mandalorian. While Best has been able to come back to Star Wars, he also has much more experience with the hatred fans of the franchise are capable of than he deserves.
On a more hopeful note, Ahmed Best and his support for The Acolyte may be proof that time will heal those wounds, and that those actors will one day be welcomed back into Star Wars with open arms.
Unfortunately, Best is also not alone in his experiences. Several other Star Wars stars have experienced racism, sexism, and bigotry for being included in the franchise. John Boyega, who played Finn in the sequel trilogy, Kelly Marie Tran, who played Rose Tico, Moses Ingram, who played Reva in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and now Amandla Stenberg have all been targets of hateful comments and harassment over the years. On a more hopeful note, Ahmed Best and his support for The Acolyte may be proof that time will heal those wounds, and that those actors will one day be welcomed back into Star Wars with open arms.
