Star Wars actor Liam Neeson who played Qui-Gon Jinn in the prequels expressed his thoughts on the criticism targeted at the Jar Jar Binks character. Neeson fondly remembered working with actor Ahmed Best, who portrayed Jar Jar Binks through voice and motion capture, during the prequels. He mentioned that he and Ewan McGregor, who played Obi-Wan, were personally affected by the negative reception towards the character.
Best’s portrayal of Jar Jar Binks in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace received significant backlash from critics and fans, some of whom considered the character to be a racist caricature.
In 2018, Best revealed that the hate he received led him to contemplate taking his own life. The negative media attention continues to impact his career, as he stated in a post alongside a picture of himself and his son on a bridge.
In 2022, GameSpot’s Chris Hayner defended Jar Jar Binks, explaining why the character deserves love. Best also made appearances in The Mandalorian and provided voice work for video games, including The Last of Us: Part II.
Looking to the future, several Star Wars films are currently in development, with the next release, The Mandalorian & Grogu, scheduled for 2026.
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