Amandla Stenberg on ‘The Acolyte’ Cancellation: “It’s Not a Huge Shock,” Blames Hyper-Conservative Bigotry

“The Acolyte” is the latest and most controversial entry in the franchise. The series faced multiple controversies even before its release, and things only worsened when the first episodes aired, revealing clear quality issues.

Despite having a massive budget, the show struggled to engage viewers, leading to a steady decline in ratings week after week. Ultimately, it was canceled after just 8 episodes.

The cancellation surprised no one; if you’ve watched even a single episode, it was clear that nearly every aspect of the show, aside from the action, fell short. Even the show’s lead, Amandla Stenberg, wasn’t shocked by its cancellation, though her reasoning might differ greatly from most viewers.

Stenberg recently addressed the cancellation on social media, attributing the show’s downfall to hyper-conservative bigotry, vitriol, prejudice, and hatred.

There has been a rampage of vitriol that we have faced since the show was even announced… a rampage of, I would say, hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudice, hatred and hateful language towards us.

The actress also reached out to her loyal fans, expressing gratitude for their unwavering support throughout her journey:

it has been an incredible honor and dream for me to be in this universe” and the audiences who did watch the show “were deeply loved and appreciated, and it made this job all the worthwhile for me.

If anyone from the cast understands the hatred and vitriol surrounding the show, it’s Stenberg. As the lead, portraying both Osha and Mae, she was frequently targeted by racism and criticism of her acting skills, which many felt didn’t meet the standards of a franchise like Star Wars.

In response, Stenberg addressed her critics through a self-written song posted on social media, which unfortunately led to even more harassment and legitimate complaints. Despite the backlash, Stenberg expressed her gratitude to Leslye Headland, calling it one of the best experiences of her career.

I have to thank Leslye Headland, I just f**** love that b****….one of the best people in the world, she’s so incredibly talented and unique and kind and I’ll love her forever, and I’ll love this experience with her forever.

What are your thoughts on the cancellation of “The Acolyte”? Share your opinions in the comments below!