Amandla Stenberg, who starred as both Mae and Osha Aniseya in retcons made by The Acolyte, while others made bigoted attacks against the Star Wars show's perceived "wokeness." Amandla Stenberg now s a growing list of The Acolyte's actors who have spoken out about the cancelation.

In a series of Instagram stories, Stenberg stated that she wanted to "speak candidly" about the backlash that The Acolyte received and the recent news of the show's cancelation. Stenberg also made a point of thanking the cast and crew of The Acolyte and everyone she worked with at Lucasfilm, and to emphasize that everyone - including herself - needs to make an effort to get out of their online echo chambers.

While speaking about the backlash The Acolyte received, Stenberg noted that ever since the show was announced, she experienced "a rampage of, I would say, hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudiced hatred, and hateful language." She also mentioned the various feelings she had towards the backlash and how she has since been able to "move through" those emotions. Stenberg went on to express her gratitude and happiness that she was able to be part of the Star Wars universe, the positive fan reactions and she saw, and the love she has for both her coworkers and for showrunner Leslye Headland.

Amandla Stenberg's Words Are A Beautiful Tribute

A key takeaway from Amandla Stenberg's reaction to The Acolyte's cancelation is how much grace she has displayed through all the show's developments. Stenberg, along with many of the cast and creators of The Acolyte, has received an enormous amount of hate for her involvement in the series. That kind of reaction can have a serious effect on a person's mental health, yet Stenberg remains graceful, respectful, and grateful. That's no easy feat, and her composure allowed her to turn her reaction to The Acolyte's cancelation into a fittingly beautiful send-off for the show.

Even with the backlash and hatred The Acolyte received, it was beloved by many. A petition to renew The Acolyte received over 30,000 signatures, and the cast of the show also clearly wanted to see it continue. No one exemplifies that more than Stenberg herself. Through it all, she made a point of expressing her gratitude to be part of Star Wars, even though her debut show was cut short. Stenberg's words are a sign of how much The Acolyte meant to the people who created it, and how they approached their story with a deep love for Star Wars.

Star Wars has always been rooted in a message of hope in the face of overwhelming darkness, and Stenberg has perfectly displayed how to bring that message into the real world.

In a way, Amandla Stenberg's reaction to The Acolyte's cancelation isn't just a great way to wrap up the show, it's a beautiful sign of what Star Wars as a whole is all about. Star Wars has always been rooted in a message of hope in the face of overwhelming darkness, and Stenberg has perfectly displayed how to bring that message into the real world. Her reaction prioritized kindness, gratitude, and grace in the face of overwhelming racism, sexism, and bigotry. Even though The Acolyte was a decidedly dark Star Wars story, Amandla Stenberg has shown how to serve the light.

Source: mannyamandlahq