Lee Jung-jae, who starred in the hit Netflix show Squid Game, has spoken out about the racist backlash he and other cast members received for their roles in the Star Wars series The Acolyte.
The show, which was canceled by Disney earlier this year, was praised by critics but met with a torrent of online abuse from some Star Wars fans. Much of the abuse was directed at the show’s diverse cast, which included several actors of color.
Read more: ‘Squid Game’ Creators Tease “Crazy” Season 2 – Gi-hun’s Back for Revenge!
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Jung-jae said he was “shocked” by the backlash. “My feelings were hurt,” he said. “Especially for Leslye Headland – her feelings must have hurt a lot.”
Jung-jae, who played Jedi Master Sol in the series, said he remained hopeful that racism would eventually end. “I can only have faith that racism will end someday, even though it’s going to be hard,” he said.
The actor also expressed his hope that The Acolyte would eventually gain more traction with fans. “For some work, it takes time to gain traction, and I have strong hopes that people will like it as time passes,” he said.
Jung-jae’s comments come just weeks after the show’s creator, Leslye Headland, spoke out about the racist abuse she received online. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Headland said she was “devastated” by the backlash.
Read more: ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ Showrunner Reveals How ‘Squid Game’ Star Lee Jung-jae Was Cast
“I was really excited about the show and I was really proud of it,” she said. “And to have it be met with such vitriol and hatred, it was really hard.”
Headland said she was particularly disappointed by the racist abuse directed at the show’s cast. “It was just really disheartening,” she said. “I felt like I had failed them in some way.”
The Acolyte was one of several Star Wars projects to be cancelled by Disney this year. The company has not given a specific reason for the cancellations, but it is widely believed that they were due to the negative reaction from some fans.
