Amandla Stenberg Reflects on Disney+’s ‘The Acolyte’ Cancellation: “It’s Not a Huge Shock”

In a candid and emotional statement on her Instagram story, Amandla Stenberg, the star of the now-canceled Disney+ series The Acolyte, opened up about her reaction to the show’s unexpected cancellation and the backlash it faced even before its debut.

“It’s not a huge shock for me [that it was canceled],” Stenberg revealed. “Of course, I live in the bubble of my own reality, but for those who aren’t aware, there has been a rampage of vitriol that we have faced since the show was even announced… when it was still just a concept and no one had even seen it.”

Stenberg went on to describe the intensity of the backlash. “That’s when we started experiencing a rampage of hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudice, hatred, and hateful language towards us. This really affected me when I first got the job because it’s just not something—even though I anticipated it happening—it’s not something you can fully understand what it feels like until it’s happening to you.”

Despite the show’s premature end, Stenberg expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the Star Wars universe, calling it “an incredible honor and dream.” She also took a moment to thank those who supported the project: “I just want to let those people know out there who supported us in that way, and supported us vocally in the face of all the vitriol that we received, and the kind of targeted attack I would say we received by the alt-right, just that you were deeply loved and appreciated, and it made this job all the more worthwhile for me.”

Stenberg also expressed deep appreciation for The Acolyte‘s showrunner, Leslye Headland. “I have to thank Leslye Headland… I just fing love that bh… one of the best people in the world… she’s so incredibly talented and unique. I will love this experience with her forever.”

The cancellation of The Acolyte marks yet another surprising turn in the world of Star Wars television, leaving fans to wonder what the future holds for the galaxy far, far away. Stenberg’s comments reflect a complex and emotional journey, highlighting both the challenges faced by those creating diverse and inclusive content and the deep connections formed along the way.