It has been 20 years since the release of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and although most of us have moved on, Ahmed Best is still haunted by his past. The actor who portrayed Jar Jar Binks has just opened up about contemplating suicide over people's reaction to his character.
Best had previously addressed the backlash over Jar Jar's introduction in The Phantom Menace. In summer last year, he admitted that he thought about killing himself when he was bullied by Star Wars fans. In a new video, Best spoke about how he almost committed suicide and what stopped him from going through with it.
"The reason why I almost ended my life on the Brooklyn Bridge was because 20 years ago, I played Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars. I faced immediate backlash that really made me feel like my life was over," Best said. He also shared how he got the role in the first place.
"I never thought that was a possibility to be in that movie. And I was doing a show called Stomp in New York and I got lucky. The casting director for Star Wars was in the audience for one of the shows and she asked me to audition and I got it and it was one of those magical things, it was one of those special things that happens that you don't really hear about."
Although Jar Jar isn't the most popular Star Wars character, Best still believes the role was the perfect one for him.
"I loved the work, and throughout my life, I've always wanted to be one of those actors that disappeared into roles. Jar Jar was that, times 100 because I could literally disappear into Jar Jar. I was not there and that to me was just the height of the art form."
Best isn't the only Star Wars actor who has received backlash. Kelly Marie Tran, who played Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, decided to quit social media when people began bullying her on the internet.
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