The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks

This is an episode of The Moth, another podcast we think you'll enjoy. On this episode of The Moth Podcast, we visit a galaxy far far away, with three stories all about the impact of Star Wars. Plus, a discussion about why Star Wars has resonated for more than 50 years. Hosts: Brandon Grant-Walker and Edgar Ruiz, Jr. Storytellers: Dame Wilburn confuses a man in a costume for the real Darth Vader. Shannan Paul’s mother teaches her that it’s alright to fall in love with science-fiction. Manuelito Wheeler translates Star Wars: A New Hope into Navajo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two decades after The Phantom Menace premiered, the world is finally reconsidering how it treated Ahmed Best and the character he brought to life. But back in our galaxy, are we doomed to stay on the dark side of internet culture? Or is it not too late to redeem ourselves and stop making the same online mistakes over and over again? Transcripts for The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks are available at go.ted.com/jarjar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of the anti-Jar Jar backlash, Ahmed begins to rebuild his life. In the meantime, we try to make sense of internet hate by talking to one of the original Jar Jar haters: the person who created The Jar Jar Hate Page. Transcripts for The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks are available at go.ted.com/jarjar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While Ahmed faces Jar Jar hate websites and death threats, an even more thorny and challenging set of criticisms hits close to home, pushing Ahmed to a breaking point. Transcripts for The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks are available at go.ted.com/jarjar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The reviews for The Phantom Menace are in. And they’re… not great. Unfortunately, that’s just the beginning. Taking on a life of its own, the anti-Jar Jar backlash bounces from the acid pen of film critics, to the pixelated grain of early websites, to the black-and-white pages of traditional media, and heads straight for Ahmed. Transcripts for The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks are available at go.ted.com/jarjar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.