Star Wars Actor Ahmed Best Recalls Suicidal Moment Amid Jar Jar Binks Backlash

Ahmed Best, the actor behind Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, has shared his harrowing experience with intense backlash following the film's release, which deeply affected his mental health and led to suicidal ideation. Best described a moment on the Brooklyn Bridge where, overwhelmed by the vitriol and accusations of racism towards his character, he contemplated ending his life but was stopped by an unexpected breeze that caused him to cling to the bridge and reconsider. Despite the character's initial unpopularity and harsh criticism, which included online harassment and press scrutiny, Best has continued to engage with the Star Wars community, even returning as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq in The Mandalorian. The Disney+ docuseries Light & Magic highlights not only the technological breakthroughs behind the character's creation but also the personal impact of the backlash on Best and the creative team. George Lucas and others in the industry acknowledged the criticism but maintained perspective on fan reactions, while Best emphasized that the experience felt like an ending rather than a beginning during a vulnerable time in his life. His openness about this struggle serves as a powerful lesson about the effects of fan and media backlash on actors and the importance of empathy within fandoms.