Amandla Stenberg Honored with Times Square Billboard as Fans Call for The Acolyte’s Revival

Fans of The Acolyte honored Amandla Stenberg with a Times Square billboard on her birthday. The campaign, funded through a grassroots campaign, aimed to celebrate Stenberg and push for the show’s renewal.

Fans Support Amandla Stenberg Through Times Square Billboard Campaign

In October 2024, The Acolyte fans rallied around Amandla Stenberg, marking her 26th birthday with a prominent Times Square billboard. The fan-driven initiative was funded through a GoFundMe campaign, aiming to spotlight their appreciation for Stenberg’s work in The Acolyte and urge Disney+ to reconsider the show’s cancellation. Stenberg responded to the gesture with gratitude, sharing pictures of the billboard on Instagram and expressing how much the surprise meant to her, thanking her fans, family, and loved ones.

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Stenberg’s Experience with The Acolyte and the Star Wars Franchise

Since her role in The Acolyte, Stenberg has faced backlash from a section of the Star Wars fandom. This bigoted opposition, rooted in broader issues within the fandom regarding diversity, led Stenberg to speak openly about the toxic treatment faced by actors of color within the franchise. Her experiences echo those of other actors in Star Wars who have faced similar backlash, highlighting a persistent issue in the community.

Amandla Stenberg has faced bigotry since childhood and has always stood strong against racism and sexism. On this anniversary of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech, those who dare to exist in white-dominated spaces still face relentless pushback for existing.pic.twitter.com/q7y7TW6AMd

— Feminegra (@feminegra) August 28, 2024

The Push for The Acolyte Renewal

For fans, The Acolyte represented a much-needed expansion of Star Wars storytelling, with a mixed casting symbolizing a meaningful step forward in diversifying the galaxy far, far away. The series had the potential to open new doors in a universe traditionally dominated by white, male characters. With Stenberg at the forefront and Leslye Headland’s creative vision guiding the show, The Acolyte promised to explore stories and perspectives that had previously gone untold in the Star Wars franchise.

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The billboard campaign serves as a rallying point for fans calling for the renewal of The Acolyte. Since the show’s cancellation announcement on August 20th, fans have pushed for reconsideration, launching petitions and online campaigns in support of Stenberg and the series. By combining their voices, they aim to show Disney+ the demand for the show and their commitment to supporting diverse storytelling in the Star Wars universe.