‘They Wrote Angry Letters To Starlog’; Star Trek Fame Wil Wheaton On Receiving Long-Overdue Appreciation Post All The Criticism

In a chat with Collider, Wheaton discussed his role as the voice of Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: Prodigy’s second season. He expressed the joy he experiences upon receiving praise from fans who fondly remember Wesley’s part in the original series.

Thinking back to the past, Wheaton shared with Collider how challenging it was during The Next Generation period for him as many fans were harshly criticizing his character. He recalled, “It’s been 35 long years since then, and I was just a teenager – 14, 15, or 16 – when my home life was unbearable. I was deeply unhappy and endured abuse at home. The only place where I felt comfort and security was at work.”

Regrettably, he received severe backlash from fans, both online through Usenet and in person at conventions, which would be considered inappropriate nowadays. Wheaton remembered, “They sent scathing letters to Starlog magazine, and they were downright cruel to me. They bullied me at conventions in ways that would no longer be tolerated.”

Wheaton noted in the interview with Collider that the idea that “nobody likes Wesley” is actually false. He pointed out that many kids who were drawn to Star Trek by Wesley’s character loved him, but they weren’t vocal about it at the time because they weren’t active online or writing letters.

Currently, fans have shared with Wheaton how deeply Wesley influenced them, bringing him great joy through this medium. He wishes he could go back in time and let his past self know that Wesley’s popularity exceeded his own expectations.

Currently, fans who once admired Wesley share stories of the profound impact he had on them, bringing joy to Wheaton. If only he could go back in time and let his past self know just how beloved Wesley truly was.

Wheaton showed gratitude and joy for his younger self, sharing that it was a delight to hear from fans who valued his past work after 30 years. He conveyed, “I’m so grateful and content for my younger self. I’d love nothing more than to leap through time and quietly assure him, ‘Hang in there, buddy! Believe me, there will come a day when it’s all worth it, and you won’t even recall this moment of hardship.'”

Star Trek: Prodigy is available for streaming on Netflix.