Amandla Stenberg, who starred as both Mae and Osha Aniseya inThe Acolyte, recently spoke out about theStar Warsshow’s cancelation and her reaction to it.The Acolyteseason 2 was recently canceled, despite the fact that thefinale ofThe Acolyteseason 1only came out little more than a month prior. Throughout its development and release,The Acolyteendured backlash and controversiesfrom fans. Some of those fans citedretcons made byThe Acolyte, while others made bigoted attacks against theStar Warsshow’s perceived “wokeness.” Amandla Stenberg now joins a growing list ofThe Acolyte’s actors who have spoken out about the cancelation.
In a series of Instagram stories,Stenberg stated that she wanted to “speak candidly” about the backlash thatThe Acolytereceived and the recent news of the show’s cancelation. Stenberg also made a point of thanking the cast and crew ofThe Acolyteand everyone she worked with at Lucasfilm, and to emphasize that everyone - including herself - needs to make an effort to get out of their online echo chambers.
While speaking about the backlashThe Acolytereceived, Stenberg noted that ever since the show was announced, she experienced “a rampage of, I would say, hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudiced hatred, and hateful language.” She also mentioned the various feelings she had towards the backlash and how she has since been able to “move through” those emotions. Stenberg went on to express her gratitude and happiness that she was able to be part of theStar Warsuniverse, the positive fan reactions and support she saw, and the love she has for both her coworkers and for showrunner Leslye Headland.
Did The Acolyte Deserved to Be Canceled?
The Acolyte season 2 has been canceled by Disney, but did this controversial Star Wars show truly deserve to be scrapped?
Amandla Stenberg’s Words Are A Beautiful Tribute
A key takeaway from Amandla Stenberg’s reaction toThe Acolyte’s cancelation is how much grace she has displayed through all the show’s developments.Stenberg, along with many of the cast and creators ofThe Acolyte, has received an enormous amount of hate for her involvement in the series. That kind of reaction can have a serious effect on a person’s mental health, yet Stenberg remains graceful, respectful, and grateful. That’s no easy feat, and her composure allowed her to turn her reaction toThe Acolyte’s cancelation into a fittingly beautiful send-off for the show.
John Boyega Backs Acolyte Star Amandla Stenberg After Racist Response To The Show’s Cancelation
Star Wars sequel trilogy actor John Boyega shares a message of support for The Acolyte’s Amandla Stenberg on social media after the show was canceled.
Even with the backlash and hatredThe Acolytereceived, it was beloved by many. Apetition to renewThe Acolytereceived over 30,000 signatures, and the cast of the show also clearly wanted to see it continue. No one exemplifies that more than Stenberg herself. Through it all, she made a point of expressing her gratitude to be part ofStar Wars, even though her debut show was cut short.Stenberg’s words are a sign of how muchThe Acolytemeant to the people who created it, and how they approached their story with a deep love forStar Wars.
Star Wars has always been rooted in a message of hope in the face of overwhelming darkness, and Stenberg has perfectly displayed how to bring that message into the real world.
In a way, Amandla Stenberg’s reaction toThe Acolyte’s cancelation isn’t just a great way to wrap up the show, it’s a beautiful sign of whatStar Warsas a whole is all about.Star Warshas always been rooted in a message of hope in the face of overwhelming darkness, and Stenberg has perfectly displayed how to bring that message into the real world. Her reaction prioritized kindness, gratitude, and grace in the face of overwhelming racism, sexism, and bigotry. Even thoughThe Acolytewas a decidedly darkStar Warsstory, Amandla Stenberg has shown how to serve the light.
The Acolyte
Cast
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
