Lee Jung-Jae Was Shocked By the Racist Backlash to The Acolyte

A lot has been mentioned of Lucasfilm’s shock decision to cancel The Acolyte earlier this 12 months, however the studio itself, eager to maneuver on to what’s subsequent (and what’s further beyond that), has stayed very quiet concerning the particular backlash the sequence’ solid and crew endured because the present rolled out—at the same time as that solid has slowly begun to address it themselves.

The newest amongst Acolyte‘s stars to debate the extra vitriolic response to the sequence is Lee Jung-Jae, who performed misguided Jedi Grasp Sol on the present. Steadily a excessive level amongst even for the present’s detractors, Lee (who’s making ready to return to the position that made him a star within the West later this month on Netflix, when Squid Recreation returns for a second season) was, identical to a number of of the other cast members on The Acolyte, often topic to racist harassment for his half within the Star Wars galaxy.

“My emotions have been harm,” Lee just lately informed Vanity Fair about The Acolyte‘s cancelation. “Particularly for Leslye Headland—her emotions should have harm so much.”

The actor added that he was “shocked” on the particularly racial undertone to a few of the backlash to the sequence, which was focused in particular on Amandla Stenberg’s portrayal of Osha and Mae, the twins on the coronary heart of the sequence. “I can solely have religion that racism will finish sometime, although it’s going to be arduous,” Lee continued. “For some work, it takes time to achieve traction, and I’ve robust hopes that individuals will prefer it as time passes.”

However despite The Acolyte‘s cancelation (and Lucasfilm’s silence on each the sequence and the therapy of its solid and crew), Lee himself is hopeful within the face of the detrimental response .“So long as I’m grateful, all issues will work out,” Lee concluded. “Fandom comes together with my profession. That is the character of it, so I can’t take it as a right. It doesn’t matter what, I’m all the time grateful.”

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