'Star Wars' actor details career collapse after 'Phantom Menace' backlash

Ahmed Best opened up about the severe backlash he faced for his role as Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

Marking the 25th anniversary of the film, the actor described how the negative reaction from fans and critics affected his career in an interview with PEOPLE Magazine.

Best recalls being initially excited about his groundbreaking role but the excitement quickly shattered as The Phantom Menace was released and fans expressed their criticism, particularly targeting Best's character.

He said, "All of these years you're just like, 'I belong at the top of the game. I belong at the highest level.' And then all of a sudden people pull the rug out from under you. And I was just like, 'What is happening now?' My career began and ended."

The backlash has such a profound effect on Best that he contemplated ending his life-as he previously shared, however, he chose to step back and reassess his life and career.

"I had to let this out. I had to let people know that this happened. This was a thing, Because no one should ever have to feel like that, to that extreme," he concluded the conversation.