George Lucas names his favourite Star Wars character – and fans are outraged
Star Wars creator George Lucas has revealed his favourite character from the franchise – and fans are outraged by his choice.
During the recent Star Wars Celebration event held in Chicago, a pre-recorded message from the filmmaker welcomed attendees at the panel for The Phantom Menace's 20th anniversary.
As it turns out, Lucas is a devoted fan of none other than Jar Jar Binks, which he previously alluded to back in 2015.
Related: Jar Jar Binks actor thanks followers for "love and kindness"
"Thank you for coming to the Celebration," Lucas declared in the intro video, "[The Phantom Menace] is one of my favourite movies and of course Jar Jar is my favourite character. Ahmed [Best], you did a fantastic job. It was very, very hard."
However, after learning about this, fans have poured onto social media to field their thoughts.
George Lucas names Jar Jar Binks his favourite character in the Star Wars Universe. I mean are you even allowed to think Star Wars is still a good franchise?
- Luke (@MMLuke2) April 17, 2019
Wait. What? He’s joking right? It must be a joke
BBC News - Star Wars: George Lucas names Jar Jar Binks as his favourite character https://t.co/BFL1VBqhe7- Ross Moore (@MooreFinancialM) April 17, 2019
FORGET POLITICS - this is THE MOST infuriating news story of 2019. #StarWars creator George Lucas thinks Jar Jar Binks is his fave character. JUST........WHY........ https://t.co/G5RK2tfxPR
- Laura Garcia Rdz B (@lauragrb) April 17, 2019
He’s just trolling now. https://t.co/GAMHiwmtjT
- Lianna Brinded (@LiannaBrinded) April 17, 2019
Surely not........
BBC News - Star Wars: George Lucas names Jar Jar Binks as his favourite character https://t.co/AxxCGAaO5n- Matthew Hall (@MatthewHall1973) April 17, 2019
Pretty sure this is the world's best troll - Star Wars: George Lucas names Jar Jar Binks as his favourite characterhttps://t.co/ZqWNp58bGi
- chris taylor (@Failur33) April 17, 2019
However, others were a little more sympathetic towards the polarising character.
Bless George Lucas for his unapologetic defense of Ahmed Best. And for his still being a fan of Jar Jar.
- Andrea Rebels (@tmcqu33n) April 15, 2019
I really love Jar Jar Binks and I cannot believe THAT'S what I have in common with George Lucas #StarWarsCelebration
- Hayley (@HayleyAbramoff) April 15, 2019
Been a fan of Jar Jar Binks since I was a kid and to this day he's still my number 1 favorite character :) despite what most of the fan base thinks, Gungans need more love tbh
- Francisco Mendoza (@FishIsKawaii666) April 15, 2019
Meanwhile, actor Simon Pegg previously shared his regret over initially hating the Gungan character after the actor who plays him shared the dark time he suffered as a result of the public backlash.
"I feel so ashamed of the fact that there was a victim, a human victim in that," he reflected.
"I think most people were regarding Jar Jar Binks like he was a real creature. And wailing on him for being annoying, or whatever, or not liking him. But there was a person behind that. And I read that and just thought, 'I'm one of those people.' It makes me feel awful."
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