John Boyega Expresses Support for Fellow ‘Star Wars’ Actress Amandla Stenberg After Toxic Fans Bully ‘The Acolyte’ Star

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As a long-time Star Wars fan and someone who has witnessed the highs and lows of this iconic franchise, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions regarding the recent events surrounding The Acolyte and its young star, Amandla Stenberg. On one hand, it’s disheartening to see such a promising series get canceled and to hear about the harassment and bullying that Amandla has endured from so-called “fans.” It’s like watching a beloved friend get pushed around by a group of bullies who don’t even deserve the same airtime.

The latest Star Wars production from Disney, titled The Acolyte, has stirred up quite a storm since its release due to several contentious events and instances of mass negative reviews. This surpassed all previous controversies surrounding any Star Wars project. However, there was a glimmer of hope for a second season until recently when it was announced that Disney had decided to cancel The Acolyte, effectively ending the possibility of a follow-up season.

As a dedicated fan, I found myself deeply divided when the last episodes unfolded, since they somehow salvaged the show in an extraordinary manner. However, it’s undeniable fact that has to be acknowledged regardless of our personal feelings towards the show.

More recently, the young actress has gained backing from another former Star Wars cast member who had a somewhat contentious history with Disney. Specifically, English actor John Boyega voiced his support for Stenberg on Instagram during the bullying controversy, a commendable action indeed!

After learning that the series had been canceled, some self-proclaimed “fans” began harassing Amandla Stenberg online in a cruel and unacceptable manner. Such behavior should not be tolerated on the internet. It’s unclear how she reacted to these abusive messages, but we hope she doesn’t give them any credence as they don’t represent genuine Star Wars enthusiasts.

During a recent post on social media, made following the conclusion of the series (but prior to its official termination), the young actress shared this statement:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @amandlastenberg

In case you’re unable to open this, the comment goes as follows:

Building a character, especially twins, requires the support of an entire community. After wrapping up our series, I feel compelled to express gratitude to the wonderful individuals who transformed into my on-set family. Beginning with @kellina___ and @cassiejocraig, the remarkable stuntwomen who nurtured me, teaching me patiently as I evolved into a stunt actor. They skillfully sculpted Osha and Mae alongside me, demonstrating such deftness, and tirelessly delivered exceptional stunt work each day. My heartfelt love for you both remains unwavering, and I miss our playful tradition of donning bunny hats in bed after enduring a hard day’s work together. ❤️❤️❤️

As a fellow enthusiast, I was disheartened to witness some fans using this platform for bullying a young actress. However, it was heartening to see John Boyega step up with a powerful and compassionate message of support, as you’ll notice if you take a look:

John Boyega in Amandla’s comments. This franchise did them both so nasty

— c (@baeduans) August 21, 2024

It’s clear that this is a wonderful situation, indicating Stenberg isn’t isolated in this matter. Notably, other actors from the same series haven’t faced such bullying. Unfortunately, the Star Wars fanbase has turned quite toxic, and we can only pray that genuine fans will eventually weed out the hateful trolls who misuse the Internet to harass and mistreat young individuals in shocking ways.

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2024-08-26 18:14