Editing Jar Jar Binks (section)

==Reception==
Even before the release of ''The Phantom Menace'', Jar Jar Binks became the subject of significant media and popular attention. After the film's release, Binks became symbolic of what many reviewers such as Brent Staples (''[[The New York Times]]''),<ref>{{Citation| last = Staples| first = Brent
|title=Shuffling Through Star Wars|newspaper =[[The New York Times]]| pages = WK4| date = June 20, 1999| url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B02EFDF123BF933A15755C0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink}}
</ref> David Edelstein (''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''),<ref>{{Citation| last = Edelstein| first = David| title = Dark Side Lite| newspaper = [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]| date = May 19, 1999| url = http://www.slate.com/MovieReview/99-05-19/MovieReview.asp| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20000306215502/http://www.slate.com/MovieReview/99-05-19/MovieReview.asp| archive-date = March 6, 2000}}</ref> and Eric Harrison (''[[Los Angeles Times]]'')<ref>{{Citation|last=Harrison
|first = Eric| title = Even an Insider Found Jar Jar, Well, Jarring| newspaper = Los Angeles Times| pages = F6| date = June 21, 1999| url =https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-21-ca-48611-story.html}}</ref> considered to be creative flaws of the film. The character was widely rejected and often ridiculed<ref name="scifimoviepage.com">{{Citation| last = O'Ehley| first = James| title = Jar Jar Binks Must Die!| url = http://www.scifimoviepage.com/jarjar.html| access-date = August 9, 2008}}</ref> by people who felt that Jar Jar was included in the film solely to appeal to children (a criticism first leveled with the introduction of the [[Ewoks]] in ''Return of the Jedi'').<ref name="scifimoviepage.com"/> Bruce Handy of ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' wrote that "Jar Jar has come to symbolize what many fans see as the faults of the prequel trilogy: characters no one much cares about; a sense of humor geared toward the youngest conceivable audience members; an over-reliance on computer graphics; and story lines devoted to the kinds of convoluted political machinations which wouldn't have been out of place in adaptations of ''[[I, Claudius]]'' or ''[[The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich]]'', but which fit less snugly in films with characters like Jar Jar Binks."<ref>{{Citation| last = Handy| first = Bruce| title = The Daring Genesis of J. J. Abrams's Star Wars: The Force Awakens| newspaper = [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] | url= https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/star-wars-the-force-awakens-vanity-fair-cover| date= September 1, 2015 |access-date= October 22, 2015}}</ref> One fan, [[Mike J. Nichols]], created and distributed, free of charge, a modified version of the film, entitled ''[[The Phantom Edit]]'', which cut out several scenes featuring what Nichols dubbed 'Jar Jar antics.' The character was also lampooned on an episode of the television show ''[[South Park]]'' entitled "[[Jakovasaurs]]", in ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'' (Episode: "Abra-Catastrophe!"), ''[[The Simpsons]]'' (Episode: "[[Co-Dependents' Day]]"), as well as the parody [[Robot Chicken: Star Wars|''Star Wars'' episodes]] of ''[[Robot Chicken]]'', in which Best reprised the role in voice-over form.<ref>{{IMDb title|1020990|Robot Chicken: Star Wars}}</ref>

In response to the criticism surrounding Jar Jar, ''Star Wars'' creator [[George Lucas]] stated that he feels there is a section of the fanbase upset that "the movies are for children but they don't want to admit that... There is a small group of fans that do not like comic [[sidekick]]s. They want the films to be tough like ''[[The Terminator]]'', and they get very upset and opinionated about anything that has anything to do with being childlike."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/394542.stm|title=Star Wars: Lucas strikes back|work=[[BBC News]]|date=July 14, 1999|access-date=February 7, 2007}}</ref>

In July 2018, Best said that the widespread criticism of his character had led to him [[suicidal ideation|considering suicide]]. Fans felt sorry for and showed their support for Best, feeling that toxic abuse is unacceptable. Among the group of people is the interpreter of [[Yoda]], [[Frank Oz]], who said that he enjoyed the character Jar Jar Binks and wrote on Twitter: "I LOVED Jar Jar Binks. I know I'll get raked over the coals for saying that but I just will never understand the harshness of people's dislike of him. I do character work. He is a GREAT character! Okay. Go ahead. Shoot. Gimme all ya got—but you'll never make me change my mind."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jul/04/jar-jar-binks-actor-considered-suicide-after-star-wars-phantom-menace|work=[[The Guardian]]|title=Jar Jar Binks actor 'considered suicide' after Star Wars prequel backlash|first=Catherine|last=Shoard|date=July 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Parker"/>

In April 2019, during the annual [[Star Wars Celebration|''Star Wars'' Celebration]] event ahead of the 20th anniversary panel for ''The Phantom Menace'', George Lucas named Jar Jar as his favorite ''Star Wars'' character.<ref>{{cite news |title=Star Wars: George Lucas names Jar Jar Binks as his favourite character |work=BBC News |date=April 17, 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47960054 |access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sharf |first1=Zack |title=20 Years Later, George Lucas Still Names Jar Jar Binks His Favorite 'Star Wars' Character |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/george-lucas-jar-jar-binks-favorite-star-wars-character-1202059335/ |website=IndieWire |date=April 16, 2019 |access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref>

===Allegations of racial caricature===

In an article for ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', film critic [[Joe Morgenstern]] described the character as a "[[Rastafari movement|Rastafarian]] [[Stepin Fetchit]] on platform hoofs, crossed annoyingly with [[Butterfly McQueen]]."<ref>{{Cite web|first=Joe|last=Morgenstern|authorlink=Joe Morgenstern| title=Our Inner Child Meets Young Darth Daver|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB927082592439077365|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=May 19, 1999|access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref> Legal scholar [[Patricia J. Williams]] argued that many aspects of Jar Jar Binks' characterization were reminiscent of the [[blackface]] archetypes in [[minstrel show]]s, while academic Paul J. Ford suggested the character is a "laid-back clown character" which utilized stereotypes of [[Afro-Caribbean people]].<ref>{{Cite web|first=Patricia J.|last=Williams|authorlink=Patricia J. Williams|title=Racial Ventriloquism|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/racial-ventriloquism/|newspaper=[[The Nation]]|date=July 5, 1999|access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Ford|first=Paul J.|year=2001|title=A further analysis of the ethics of representation in virtual reality: Multi-user environments|journal=Ethics and Information Technology|publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers|volume=3|issue=2|pages=113–121|doi=10.1023/A:1011846009390|s2cid=30377478|postscript=.}}</ref> Lucasfilm responded to these claims by denying that there were any racist intentions during the character's creation.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Michael|last=Okwu|authorlink=Michael Okwu|title=Jar Jar jarring|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9906/09/jar.jar/index.html|newspaper=[[CNN]]|date=June 14, 1999|access-date=November 11, 2013}}</ref> George Lucas has also responded, stating that "those criticisms are made by people who've obviously never met a Jamaican....How in the world could you take an orange [[amphibian]] and say that he's a Jamaican?".<ref>{{cite book |last1=McDowell |first1=John C. |title=Identity Politics in George Lucas' Star Wars |date=2016 |publisher=McFarland |page=137}}</ref> Ahmed Best also rejected such claims, stating that "Jar Jar has nothing to do with the Caribbean".<ref>{{Cite magazine|first=Michael|last=Okwu|authorlink=Michael Okwu|title=Jar Jar Binks: A Digital Star Is Born|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/jar-jar-binks-a-digital-star-is-born-50301/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=June 24, 1999|access-date=August 26, 2014}}</ref>

===Speculations of villainy===
On December 19, 2010, [[Adult Swim]] released ''[[Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III]]'', an animated comedy special parody of ''Star Wars''. In the first sketch, titled ''The Emperor's Back'', Emperor Palpatine feels remorse for his actions and calls Jar Jar, voiced by [[Ahmed Best]] himself, on the telephone, apologizing to him for manipulating him into granting Palpatine emergency powers in the senate during ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones|Attack of the Clones]]''. Jar Jar pretends to accept this apology, feigning innocence, but after he hangs up he reveals that he was in fact a Sith Lord, named Darth Jar Jar, who only pretended to be manipulated by Palpatine and actually manipulated Palpatine himself. This sketch was in reference to a popular in-joke among ''Star Wars'' fans. Five years later, in late October 2015, a [[Reddit]] user by the name of "Lumpawarroo" (the name of Chewbacca's son) published a detailed theory speculating that Jar Jar was originally written as a major [[antagonist]] of the series, a manipulative, prominent collaborator of [[Palpatine]], before being written off from his major villain's role due to the character's negative reception.<ref>{{cite web |title=[Theory] Jar Jar Binks was a trained Force user, knowing Sith collaborator, and will play a central role in The Force Awakens|url=https://www.reddit.com/comments/3qvj6w/ |access-date=November 11, 2015 |date=October 30, 2015 |author=Lumpawarroo |publisher=[[Reddit]] /r/StarWars}}</ref> This theory was related to an earlier interview with actor Ahmed Best in [[/r/IAmA]], where he claimed that Jar Jar had been displaced from the story's main focus due to the backlash, implying at the same time that the hate received by the character was not entirely unintentional.<ref>{{cite web |title=IamA Ahmed Best actor/writer/director, best known for playing Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars Ep. 1,2,3. Ask me Anything!|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/236oks/iama_ahmed_best_actorwriterdirector_best_known/|access-date=May 2, 2019|author=Ahmed Best |date=April 16, 2014|publisher=[[Reddit]] /r/IAmA}}</ref>

The post quickly became popular and received significant media coverage internationally by independent bloggers and major news outlets like ''[[The Guardian]]'', ''[[The Washington Post]]'', and ''[[The New York Times]]'', which included analysis of his actions in ''The Phantom Menace'' and gave him the nickname of "Darth Jar Jar".<ref name="Matt Hickey">{{cite magazine |title=Fans Rocked By Star Wars Character Theory That Changes Everything They Know |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthickey/2015/10/31/fans-rocked-by-star-wars-character-theory-that-changes-everything-they-know/ |access-date=November 16, 2015 |date=October 31, 2015 |first=Matt|last=Hickey |magazine=[[Forbes]]}}</ref><ref name=Andr>{{cite news |title=Is Jar Jar Binks the ultimate Star Wars bad guy? Yes, says the internet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/nov/06/jar-jar-binks-star-wars-sith-snoke-george-lucasa-jj-abrams-reddit-lumpawaroo-theory |access-date=November 11, 2015 |date=November 6, 2015 |first=Andrew P.|last=Street |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The biggest problem with the Jar Jar Theory |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2015/11/04/the-biggest-problem-with-the-jar-jar-theory/ |access-date=November 11, 2015 |date=November 4, 2015 |first=Alexandra|last=Petri|author-link=Alexandra Petri |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref name=Wisd>{{cite news |title=Darth Jar Jar and the Wisdom of Fans |url=http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/11/09/darth-jar-jar-and-the-wisdom-of-fans/?_r=0 |access-date=November 16, 2015 |date=November 9, 2015 |author=Ross Douthat |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Journalist Andrew Street from ''The Guardian'' called it a "classic twist", comparing it to [[Yoda]]'s role in ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'',<ref name=Andr/> while Matt Hickey from ''[[Forbes]]'' went to the extent of contacting [[George Lucas]] about the question, but received no answer.<ref name="Matt Hickey"/>

In response to the speculations, Best [[Twitter|tweeted]], "I will say this, it feels really good when the hidden meaning behind the work is seen. No matter how long it takes," apparently confirming the theory.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=ahmedbest|author=Ahmed Best|number=661221044712148993|date=2 November 2015|title=I will say this, it feels really good when the hidden meaning behind the work is seen. No matter how long it takes. #TPM}}</ref> Some months later, he expanded upon his tweet in a [[YouTube]] interview, stating, "there is a lot about [the theory] that is true, there are some things about it that are not true... Could Jar Jar have evolved into that? I think the answer is yes. Because of the backlash, and rightfully so, Lucasfilm backed off of Jar Jar a lot, but a lot of the influence that I put into the character mirrored a lot of what was already in the ''Star Wars'' universe." Best concluded only Lucas could unveil the actual role of Binks, yet he also claimed that a deleted scene from ''Attack of the Clones'' would have still shown Palpatine darkly confiding his plans about the Empire to Jar Jar.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ahmed Best says DARTH JAR JAR theory is TRUE! (sort of)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgJF5hT3Lrg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ZgJF5hT3Lrg| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|access-date=May 2, 2019|first=Jamie|last=Stangroom | date=March 10, 2016 |publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[J. J. Abrams]], who directed two installments of the franchise's [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|sequel trilogy]] after its buyout by [[Disney]], personally approved of the theory about the villainous Jar Jar. He described Lumpawarroo's argumentation as an "unbelievably lengthy analysis, in a very seriously thought-out way, as to why it's obviously true he's [evil]."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Jar Jar Binks fan theory: J. J. Abrams weighs in|url=https://ew.com/article/2015/11/30/jar-jar-binks-fan-theory-jj-abrams/|access-date= December 26, 2019 |date= November 30, 2015 |first=Christopher|last=Rosen|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>

In 2019, when questioned about it, Best stated again only Lucas could answer, but he confirmed the theorists' idea of Jar Jar's antics being actually a disguised fighting style akin to [[drunken boxing]], revealing that he based his performance on [[Jackie Chan]]'s role in the 1978 film ''[[Drunken Master]]''. He said, "the Darth Jar Jar theory caught it - caught it. I never thought anybody would see that".<ref>{{cite web|title=Ahmed Best on Darth Jar Jar Theory|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NhIkyX-Dyw&list=WL&index=8|access-date=January 27, 2014|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The Darth Jar Jar theory is referenced in the animated miniseries ''[[Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy]]'', in which a Jedi relic accidentally rewrites reality and turns Jar Jar (reprised by Best) into a Sith Lord.<ref>{{cite web | last=Peralta | first=Diego | title=A 'Stranger Things' Star Makes the Jump to 'Star Wars' in First LEGO 'Rebuild the Galaxy' Trailer | website=Collider | date=May 6, 2024 | url=https://collider.com/lego-star-wars-trailer-rebuild-the-galaxy/ | access-date=May 6, 2024}}</ref>

In 2025, Jar Jar was added to ''[[Fortnite Battle Royale]]'' as part of the ''Star Wars''-themed "Galactic Battle" season, where he is depicted as a Sith Lord capable of using Force Lightning.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bankhurst |first=Adam |date=2025-04-20 |title=Fortnite Is Adding Darth Jar Jar and a Star Wars-Themed Battle Pass for Its Galactic Battle Season |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/fortnite-is-adding-darth-jar-jar-and-a-star-wars-themed-battle-pass-for-its-galactic-battle-season |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

===Character reassessment===
{{quote box|width = 33%|quote=I actually felt terrible that Ahmed Best suffered so much. I remember when he came out to [ILM headquarters] Kerner and I met him, showed him around, and I said, "We're really interested in having your interpretation of this character. You're going to bring a lot to this, the personality is something that we have not experienced that yet. And that's going to be your part in it."

And he was this kid in his twenties, who did that beautiful Stomp, that show that he was involved in, which we all got to see. George let us see a special [performance] of that -- yeah, that was during a company meeting. There was a big theater up there in San Rafael, and the company meeting turned out to be a little bit of conversation and then we got to see Stomp. Ahmed was in that thing, and I was just like, "This is so cool!" It was just wonderful.

So here he was, this kid I think had hoped that this was going to be something that transformed his life in a really great way. Who wouldn't think that? It's an opportunity to work on a ''Star Wars'' movie.|source=—Digital model designer Jean Bolte remembers meeting actor Ahmed Best.<ref name="Brooks">{{cite web |last=Brooks |first=Dan |title="All Films Are Personal": An Oral History of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-oral-history |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=StarWars.com}}</ref>}}

Since the release of the movie [[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace|''The Phantom Menace'']], many people who have worked on the ''Star Wars'' films and viewers have defended Jar Jar Binks.<ref name="starwars.com">{{cite web |last=Brooks |first=Dan |title="All Films Are Personal": An Oral History of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-oral-history |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=StarWars.com}}</ref>

Filmmaker and creator George Lucas defended the character Jar Jar Binks by clarifying that the ''Star Wars'' films were made for 12-year-old children. He has said from the beginning in early interviews for ''[[Star Wars (film)|A New Hope]]'' that the series was intended for children.<ref name="starwars.com"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Dretzka |first=Gary |date=May 13, 2002 |title=Lucas strikes back / 'Star Wars' creator defends Jar Jar and... |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/lucas-strikes-back-star-wars-creator-defends-2837554.php |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=SFGATE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 21, 2024 |title=From the Archives: George Lucas Tells the STAR WARS Origin Story |url=https://www.afi.com/news/from-the-archives-george-lucas-tells-the-star-wars-origin-story/ |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=American Film Institute}}</ref>

In an interview with [[IGN]] during the premiere of ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens|The Force Awakens]]'', Yoda's performer [[Frank Oz]] stated that Jar Jar Binks is his favorite character: "I love Jar Jar Binks. I swear to god I do... When I saw that script I thought he was a fantastic character and I don't know what the heck happened… I thought he was fantastic; he was hysterical. He reminded me of [[Abbott and Costello]]."<ref>{{cite web |author1=Brent McKnight |date=December 17, 2015 |title=What Frank Oz Really Thinks Of Jar Jar Binks |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/What-Frank-Oz-Really-Thinks-Jar-Jar-Binks-100697.html |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=CINEMABLEND}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Frank Oz Defends Jar Jar Binks | date=December 17, 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXh47Z_iYlU |access-date=October 20, 2023}}</ref>

Actor [[Liam Neeson]] praised Ahmed Best for his portrayal of Jar Jar Binks: "I know a lot of fans and critics didn't like it. Ahmed Best, who played Jar Jar Binks, received a lot of criticism, to the point where it really hurt his career. And I have to say that when he was making that movie, with Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks and with Ewan McGregor as young Obi-Wan Kenobi, he was probably one of the funniest and most talented guys I've ever worked with. I remember calling... my old ex-agent... and saying, 'Listen, I think I just worked with the new [[Eddie Murphy]].' And I still believe it."<ref>{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Ryan |date=September 14, 2020 |title=Liam Neeson Praises Jar Jar Binks Actor While Defending The Phantom Menace |url=https://movieweb.com/jar-jar-binks-ahmed-best-liam-neeson-praise/ |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=MovieWeb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Ryan |date=September 14, 2020 |title=Liam Neeson Explains Why He's "Proud" of 'The Phantom Menace' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/liam-neeson-says-hes-proud-of-the-phantom-menace-4059922/ |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

During the 20th anniversary of ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace|The Phantom Menace]]'' film, many members of the prequel production team have defended the character and appreciated the public's acceptance at the [[Star Wars Celebration]] panel. Visual effects supervisor [[John Knoll]] reflected: "Well, I think it's good to see [his newfound popularity], because I think George took a lot of the criticism pretty harshly. It was kind of painful for me to see how cruel people were about it and how personally George took it. I think the movies didn't deserve as much hate as they received. It hurt me to see how much George took those things." He also said, "I thought [the Star Wars Celebration panel] was great, especially the warm reaction there was to Ahmed. I know he took all the vicious comments people had about Jar Jar very hard. That's not his fault, he didn't write that character. He's an actor who did a really good job and worked hard to get it right. Seeing the really warm reaction of the crowd made me feel... It was moving.".<ref name="starwars.com"/>
Animation director [[Rob Coleman]] said that twenty years later he still has younger people coming up to him and telling him that Jar Jar is their favorite character.<ref name="starwars.com"/>
Digital model designer Jean Bolte cited Jar Jar Binks as one of her favorite characters to work with alongside Sebulba and Yoda, saying, "Going to Star Wars Celebration and seeing and hearing the fans so interested in which one was our contribution… It really completely changed my point of view about being privileged to have had anything to do with these films.".<ref name="starwars.com"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Star Wars: The Phantom Menace cast and crew reunited ahead of 20th anniversary |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/star-wars-the-phantom-menace-cast-reunite-for-20th-anniversary/ |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=CNET}}</ref><ref name="youtube.com">{{citation |title=Star Wars: Phantom Menace 20th Anniversary Celebration Live Panel | date=April 15, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhBGb8J9vsI |access-date=October 20, 2023}}</ref>

In an interview with [[Europa Press]] during the premiere of ''[[Rogue One|Rogue One: A Star Wars Story]]'', a journalist asked actress [[Felicity Jones]] who she would like to receive a gift from if she were in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy at Christmas time and she responded: "I think she would be very interested to receive a gift from Jar Jar Binks or C-3P0."<ref>{{cite web |agency=Europa Press |date=December 14, 2016 |title=ENTREVISTA {{!}} Felicity Jones: "Rogue One es una historia sobre personajes imperfectos y vulnerables" |url=https://www.europapress.es/cultura/cine-00128/noticia-entrevista-felicity-jones-rogue-one-historia-personajes-imperfectos-vulnerables-20161214183105.html |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=www.europapress.es}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Entrevista con Felicity Jones por 'Rogue One' | date=December 14, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbQt6Zv0mgY |access-date=October 20, 2023}}</ref>

Ahmed Best was moved by people's appreciation for Jar Jar Binks: "It was definitely the kids. I had to start looking at Jar Jar through their eyes, and that's what made me smile again. Now those kids, they are between 20 and 30 years old. They have a different perspective on ''The Phantom Menace''. ''The Phantom Menace'', for them, is their ''Star Wars''. ''[Episodes] IV'', ''V'' and ''VI'', that's their parents' ''Star Wars'', and ''VII'', ''VIII'' and ''IX'', that's their children's ''Star Wars''. But the prequels, that's theirs, and they defend the prequels. So I see the same thing. I see the resurgence of ''The Phantom Menace''." He then talked about his experience of going to Star Wars Celebration: "To be very honest, I was very afraid to go to Celebration. Every time I'm in a ''Star Wars'' setting, I spend most of my time defending our work and defending Jar Jar. And I just don't want to do that anymore. So I was very reluctant to come to Celebration because of that, and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't the case at all. I just felt nothing but love and respect and admiration for the work we did. I couldn't have been more proud and I couldn't have been happier. I wish George was there because I think we're at a time right now where we have to stand in that work. We have to say, "We did it," and step into that in a very proud way, because it stands the test of time."<ref name="starwars.com"/><ref name="youtube.com"/>