Facing the wrath of online trolls after joining the galaxy far, far away, actor Naomi Ackie shares her journey of resilience and the support she received during her time in the 'Star Wars' franchise.
- August 25, 2024
AceShowbiz - Learning from the backlash over John Boyega's 2014 casting in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," actress Naomi Ackie took preemptive measures to safeguard herself when she was cast in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker." Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Ackie revealed that insiders advised her to delete her Instagram to sidestep potential negativity that might come her way.
"I had heard that anyone of color would get wrapped up in some racist s***," she said. "I didn't want to have a place for them to come with their comments."
After removing her platform, Disney intervened to ensure her online safety, working behind the scenes to restore her account with verification and a follower boost. Despite this, Ackie eventually found herself caught in the trappings of social media, leading to negative emotional impacts.
"I started putting stuff on my page that was attention-seeking. Trying to be funny on my Insta stories, or trying to be hot, trying to be a thirst trap from my fucking house share that I lived in with three other guys. It was like, what the fuck, this is not working at all and I don't feel good about it. I eventually realized it was time to get rid of it properly."
Ackie's experience is not isolated. Moses Ingram also faced similar hostility after her role in the "Obi-Wan Kenobi" series as Inquisitor Reva. Ingram encountered an influx of mean DMs and comments on Instagram, with one particularly harsh message calling her of a "loser" and being a "diversity hire."
"I think the thing that bothers me is that like, sort of this feeling that I've had inside of myself. This feeling that no one has told me, but like I just got to shut up and take it. I just got to bury it. And I'm not built like that. So I really just wanted to come on, I think, and say thank you to the people who show up for me in the comments and the places I'm not going to put myself. And to the rest of y'all, y'all weird."
Despite the online animosity, both actors continue to thrive in their careers. Ingram can be seen in the Apple TV+ series "Lady in the Lake" while Ackie stars in "Blink Twice," currently in theaters.
Their stories highlight the importance of continuing the conversation around online hate and the measures creatives can take to protect their mental health while navigating the demands of public life. As Ackie and Ingram demonstrate, it is vital to build supportive networks and refuse to let negativity dictate one's sense of self-worth or career trajectory.
