The Acolyte Star Amandla Stenberg Deletes Instagram Days After Leslye Headland Called Star Wars Critics “Fascists and Racists”

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This week, Star Wars fans discovered that Amandla Stenberg’s Instagram account is no longer available, and its disappearance happened shortly after Leslye Headland, the creator of the show The Acolyte, caused controversy by accusing some of its critics of being “fascists and racists.”

The announcement’s timing has led to a lot of discussion among fans, mainly because Stenberg previously used Instagram to strongly respond to criticism from viewers during the show’s controversy.

Amandla Stenberg deleted her Instagram account without any explanation. There was no goodbye message or any indication of what happened – her verified profile simply vanished. Fans are now wondering if this was a deliberate decision to step away from public life, or if it was related to the ongoing criticism surrounding the cancellation of her Disney+ Star Wars show.

A Sudden Disappearance from a Formerly Active Account

During the run of The Acolyte, Amandla Stenberg was very engaged with fans online. She regularly posted updates, directly addressed criticism, and even created a viral video responding to negative reactions. This made her Instagram account a central part of the show’s public discussion, even if Disney didn’t always approve.

So when fans discovered that the account was gone entirely, the reaction wasn’t subtle.

Google’s AI search is currently sending people to a fan-made page called “NOT AMANDLA,” highlighting the mystery surrounding the recent disappearance of Amandla Stenberg’s account. The timing of the deletion is unknown, there was no farewell message, and Stenberg’s representatives haven’t made any public statement.

The Timing: Days After Headland’s New Accusations

This removal of content follows recent statements by Leslye Headland, the showrunner of The Acolyte and a former assistant to Harvey Weinstein. She reiterated her belief that negative reactions to the show stemmed from prejudice, not from problems with the story itself.

Leslye Headland, discussing the negative online reaction to The Acolyte, acknowledged a range of commentators. She said while she respects some of them, others are simply taking advantage of the situation. She also pointed out the presence of hateful voices, including fascists and racists, within the online community.

Now that Headland is getting attention for something Disney likely wouldn’t approve of, the fact that actress Stenberg hasn’t spoken up is particularly noticeable. She’s usually very open about sharing her thoughts publicly, and fans are definitely taking note of her silence right as the show’s creator reignited the controversy.

A History of Blaming Fans

Look, it’s become pretty clear that Amandla Stenberg and this show haven’t had an easy relationship with its fans. Throughout the series’ run, she directly addressed criticism, and even recently, she suggested the cancellation was due to negativity from the fandom. Now, with all the press surrounding the show’s ending, those statements – and older posts where she seemed to blame the audience instead of the writing – are getting a lot of attention again. It’s a pattern, honestly, and it’s hard to ignore.

Amandla Stenberg’s response to the Acolyte being canceled.
Do you agree with her?

She explained that the show faced a huge amount of negativity, prejudice, and hate, particularly from groups associated with the alt-right, and this ultimately led to its cancellation.

Idk about all that I just though it’s…

— StarWarsTheory (@realswtheory) August 29, 2024

In 2024, Amandla Stenberg explained that even before the show was released, they and the cast faced a wave of intense negativity and hateful comments. Stenberg acknowledged living within their own perspective, but emphasized that the backlash began early, when the project was just an idea, and included prejudiced and bigoted language.

Considering what happened before, the disappearance of Amandla Stenberg’s Instagram account – where she was most publicly responding to the criticism – understandably led people to wonder what was going on.

What Comes Next for Stenberg?

Even after going missing, Stenberg is still very busy with her acting career. She has a leading role in the upcoming movie adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone, is currently working on the animated film Wildwood, and will also be in Golf Gods.

Her professional future appears intact—even if her social media presence is not.

Final Thoughts

It’s hard to miss that Amandla Stenberg deleted her Instagram around the same time as discussions about The Acolyte and its fans were heating up. Whether she did it to distance herself from the show and its sometimes critical fanbase, respond to recent comments from the showrunner, or just take a break from social media, the timing seems significant.

Removing a show known for online drama from the platform where that drama thrived definitely makes a statement, even if the creator isn’t yet explaining what it is.

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2025-11-27 00:57