As a dedicated fan of the Star Wars universe, I’ve been following Naomi Ackie‘s journey with immense admiration. Her role as Jannah in The Rise of Skywalker brought a fresh, powerful character to the franchise and added depth to its diverse cast. However, it was her recent interview with THR that truly resonated with me.
It’s no secret that the Star Wars fandom can sometimes be toxic. For an unfortunate example, following the cancelation of The Acolyte, there was a ton of horrific trolling towards the series and its cast. Naomi Ackie, known for her role as Jannah in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, recently opened up about her experience with racism and the intense pressure of social media after joining one of the most iconic franchises in cinema history.
As a Black gamer in the expansive Star Wars universe, I’ve learned firsthand about the harsh reality of racism lurking online. Seeing what my fellow colorful stars like John Boyega had to endure, I couldn’t help but anticipate the potential backlash that might come my way. To safeguard my mental well-being, I decided to steer clear of social media when my role was revealed, hoping to bypass a similar ordeal.
In a recent conversation with THR, she shared that she aimed to prevent any chance for harmful fans to target her, expressing this as: “She expressed during the interview that she wished to minimize any chances for disrespectful fans to assail her.”
In simpler terms, I understood that individuals of color might encounter racial discrimination. To avoid such discussions, I preferred not to create an environment where they could share their experiences or opinions.
Although Ackie had initially chosen to steer clear of social media, she eventually felt pulled back due to the necessity to keep an active online profile, particularly with the launch of a large-scale project like The Rise of Skywalker. It was ultimately Disney who encouraged her return to social media, taking care of her verification process and rapidly increasing her number of followers.
At first, it appeared manageable due to her not experiencing the same level of harsh criticism as others within the franchise. Yet, despite this, unfavorable elements from social media eventually emerged. She went on to say:
They performed some mysterious action that immediately granted me a verification [checkmark] and numerous followers, coinciding with the release of Star Wars. Initially, I remained content for a while, but eventually found myself excessively scrolling through the platform, comparing myself to others and developing feelings of envy, sadness, and depression. I began posting attention-grabbing content on my page, attempting to be humorous in my Instagram stories or attractive, essentially turning my shared living space into a ‘thirst trap.’ However, it all felt wrong, and I didn’t feel good about it. Eventually, I recognized that it was time for me to delete the account properly.
Luckily, Naomi Ackie’s dreaded backlash never surfaced. Yet, if it had, it wouldn’t have been unprecedented given the ordeals faced by other actors of color in the Star Wars universe. For instance, Kelly Marie Tran, known for her role in The Last Jedi, experienced persistent cyberbullying from certain aggressive fans, eventually prompting her to quit social media. Despite support from her director, Rian Johnson, and co-star, Mark Hamill, the damage was already inflicted. To add insult to injury, Tran’s character, Rose Tico, received reduced screen time in the subsequent film, underscoring the effects of the backlash.
Though Ackie didn’t encounter blatant racism directly, the ever-present tension and additional stressors like maintaining an online persona and frequent comparisons with others negatively impacted her psychological wellbeing. Given the intense scrutiny that comes with being a young actress catapulted into stardom by a blockbuster franchise role, prioritizing mental health was crucial for Ackie. Her step back from social media aligns with a rising trend in the celebrity world, where many Star Wars colleagues and others have chosen to focus on their mental well-being instead of engaging publicly.
In the ongoing discourse surrounding diversity and representation in Hollywood, Ackie’s journey presents a more encouraging tale than that of some of her contemporaries. Yet, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of further discussions about the impact of social media. This influence can sometimes skew one’s self-perception and cultivate unhealthy attitudes towards body image.
Naomi Ackie’s latest film, “Blink Twice,” has been added to the 2024 movie lineup and is now showing at a local theater near you. If you’re a fan, you can catch up on all the Star Wars Saga movies in sequence by streaming them through a Disney+ subscription.
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2024-08-26 00:07