Star Wars Stars Were ‘Personally Hurt and Offended’ by Jar Jar Binks Backlash
Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor were appalled by the backlash against Ahmed Best’s Star Wars character.
Fans did not exactly embrace Jar Jar Binks with open arms when the character was introduced in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and Liam Neeson still remembers how much that bothered the cast.
Portrayed by Ahmed Best, who provided the voice and motion capture for the character, Jar Jar Binks was the subject of heavy backlash when he came onto the scene in 1999’s Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Maligned by fans and critics, Jar Jar Binks subsequently had his role reduced in the sequels, and Best would later address how painful the criticism had been. In a new interview with Empire for the publication’s 25th anniversary celebration of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Liam Neeson recalled working with Best, sharing how “offended” he and Ewan McGregor had been over the Jar Jar criticism.
“Ahmed was so funny and innovative,” Neeson said. “Myself and Ewan were personally hurt and offended by the critical reaction to the character.”
Fan Hatred Against Jar Jar Binks Has Been Lessened in Recent Years
Over time, the backlash over Jar Jar Binks will subside, and many fans have come around to feel more appreciative for the character. Jar Jar will also make an animated return in The Clone Wars with Best reprising the role. Best will also make another big splash in the Star Wars universe with his alternate role as Kelleran Beq, which includes a special appearance in the third season of The Mandalorian in 2023. It’s a different place to be for the actor, who previously shared how he consider taking his own life as a result of the depression associated with the criticism.
“20 years next year I faced a media backlash that still affects my career today. It’s still hard to talk about,” Best said in a social media post in 2018. He’d later recall how the backlash started before the film was even released , due to Jar Jar’s appearances in the trailers, and he was worried it would “ruin” the movie. Best remembered of feeling at the time, “It was terrible. It was the lowest point I’ve been in my life.”
Addressing how his Mandalorian appearance turned things around for him in a big way, Best added, “It really felt good. As an artist, I lost my confidence for so many years, but The Mandalorian gave me that affirmation of ‘You were always doing the right thing … It wasn’t you.’”
The full interviews with Star Wars cast members will be included in the new Empire issue, dated to be released on Feb. 15.
