The Crazy Rich Asians, Hustlers, and Fresh Off The Boat star wrote: “I was afraid of coming back on social media because I almost lost my life from it: 3 years ago, when I made careless tweets about the renewal of my TV show, it ignited outrage and internet shaming that got pretty severe.” The tweets Wu is referencing were made by the actress in 2019 when she shared statements online expressing how she was “really upset” over the renewal of Fresh Off The Boat. The ABC sitcom was based on chef Eddie Huang’s best-selling memoir of the same name that takes a light-hearted, comedy-driven look at the lives of immigrants in America. Her tweets immediately sparked outrage among fans of the show, who began bullying and badgering Wu for not sharing their excitement. “I felt awful about what I’d said, and when a few DMs from a fellow Asian actress told me I’d become a blight on the Asian American community, I started feeling like I didn’t even deserve to live anymore. That I was a disgrace to AsAms, and they’d be better off without me.” In the letter she penned and shared online, Wu reflected on the heartbreaking moments that led up to one of the actress’ darkest experiences, admitting to an attempt on her own life due to the overwhelming backlash she faced. “Looking back,” Wu wrote, “it’s surreal that a few DMs convinced me to end my own life, but that’s what happened. Luckily, a friend found me and rushed me to the ER.” She continued: “For the next few years, I put my career aside to focus on my mental health. AsAms don’t talk about mental health enough. While we’re quick to celebrate representation wins, there’s a lot of avoidance around the more uncomfortable issues within our community,” she explained. “Even my tweets became a subject so touchy that most of my AsAm colleagues decided that was the time to avoid me or ice me out. I’ll admit it hurt a lot, but it also made me realize how important it is to reach out and care for people who are going through a hard time.” For Wu, this devastating moment has become a silver-lining of enlightenment. The award-winning actress revealed that she authored a memoir, titled Making a Scene, which details deeply personal moments from her life in a series of essays. She said that even though the book is not totally flattering, it’s an honest portrayal of how often many of us are scared, or ashamed, or beat ourselves up over our imperfections. “If we want to be seen, really seen… we need to let all of ourselves be seen, including the parts we’re scared of or ashamed of — parts that, however imperfect, require care and attention,” she said. “And we need to stop beating each other (and ourselves) up when we do. So while my book is not always the most flattering portrayal, it’s as honest as I know how to be. Because the truth is, I’m not poised or graceful or perfect. I’m emotional. I make mistakes … lots of ’em!” You can read Constance Wu’s full statement below. If you are struggling, call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide also provide contact information for crisis centers around the world. Next, ‘Stranger Things’ Star Noah Schnapp Confirms Will Byers’ Sexuality Ahead of Season 5.
