Star Wars: Jar Jar Binks actor says he almost ended his life after Phantom Menace backlash
STAR WARS The Phantom Menace’s Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best has admitted he almost committed suicide after “media backlash” twenty years ago.
Preview of SOLO: A Star Wars Story starring Alden Ehrenreich
Back in 1999 Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace hit cinemas, the first of film in the franchise to be released since 1983’s Return of the Jedi.
While the film made over $1 billion, a huge feat for 20 years ago, it’s now much derided as one of the worst Star Wars movies to date.
And no character from that film has been more criticised than Jar Jar Binks, the slapstick Gungan companion of Anakin Skywalker.
Best, who played Jar Jar Binks, has previously spoken out on how the bad reaction affected him, but has now revealed it almost led to him taking his own life.
20 years next year I faced a media backlash that still affects my career today. This was the place I almost ended my life. It’s still hard to talk about. I survived and now this little guy is my gift for survival. Would this be a good story for my solo show? Lemme know. pic.twitter.com/NvVnImoJ7N
— Ahmed BEst (@ahmedbest) July 3, 2018
The 44-year-old wrote on Twitter: “20 years next year I faced a media backlash that still affects my career today.
“This was the place I almost ended my life. It's still hard to talk about.
“I survived and now this little guy is my gift for survival.
“Would this be a good story for my solo show? Lemme know.”
Best’s tweet was accompanied by a shot of him and his son looking out over a bay.
In response, other members of the Star Wars family have reached out to the Jar Jar Binks actor with support.
The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson wrote: “Lots of love to you Ahmed. I think there are many of us who’d get quite a lot from hearing your story.
While Yoda actor Frank Oz said: “I LOVED Jar Jar Binks.”
Lots of love to you Ahmed. I think there are many of us who’d get quite alot from hearing your story.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) July 3, 2018
I LOVED Jar Jar Binks. I know I’ll get raked over the coals for saying that but I just will never understand the harshness of people’s dislike of him. I do character work. He is a GREAT character! Okay. Go ahead. Shoot. Gimme all ya got—but you’ll never make me change my mind. https://t.co/RHhhXUlU5C
— Frank Oz (@TheFrankOzJam) July 4, 2018
Oz continued: “I know I’ll get raked over the coals for saying that but I just will never understand the harshness of people’s dislike of him.
“I do character work. He is a GREAT character! Okay. Go ahead. Shoot. Gimme all ya got—but you’ll never make me change my mind.”
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