Landing a role in the iconic Star Wars universe is a dream for many actors. However, for Naomi Ackie, who played Jannah in ‘The Rise of Skywalker’, the experience was tinged with a rather far twist.
Additionally, Ackie, while talking to the Hollywood reporter, talked about facing the fear of racist abuse from a segment of the fanbase.
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Naomi Ackie Deleted Social Media Due To Fear Of Racism
In a recent interview, Ackie revealed she made a preemptive decision to delete her social media presence before her casting was even announced. Additionally, this drastic step stemmed from witnessing the racist backlash faced by John Boyega, who played Finn in the previous Star Wars trilogy.
“I had heard that anyone of color would get wrapped up in some racist sh*t,” she stated bluntly. Her comments did a great job of highlighting the toxic online environment surrounding the franchise. Ackie simply didn’t want to be a target for negativity. “I didn’t want to have a place for them to come with their comments,” Ackie explained with a sense of frustration.
Additionally, this shines a light on the unfortunate reality of actors of color entering established franchises. They not only have to deal with the pressure of playing beloved characters but also face the potential for online harassment.
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Ackie Talks About The Hard Time She Erased Her Online Identity
However, the story doesn’t end there. After the film’s release, Ackie found herself drawn back to social media. “But then I eventually found myself scrolling too much, comparing myself to other people and becoming jealous, sad and depressed,” she explained.
Initially, things seemed manageable to her. However, the allure of social media soon turned sour. Ackie admitted to “scrolling too much,” comparing herself to others, and falling prey to feelings of jealousy, sadness, and depression. Additionally, she opened up about the drawbacks of maintaining an online presence.
Realizing the negative impact of social media, Ackie made another difficult decision. “It started putting stuff on my page that was attention-seeking,” she confessed. The attempt to fit in, be funny, or project an idealized image online just exacerbated her feelings. Finally, Ackie reached a breaking point. “I eventually realized it was time to get rid of it properly,” she stated.
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