Fresh Off The Boat: Constance Wu's Opening Credits

Constance Wu is an American actress who rose to fame for her role in the ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. In 2019, she faced backlash for her negative reaction to the show's renewal for a sixth season. In a series of tweets, she expressed her frustration and disappointment, which many fans interpreted as ingratitude. However, Wu later clarified that her emotions stemmed from having to give up another project that she was passionate about. The controversy sparked by her tweets led to a three-year hiatus from social media, and she also reduced her acting workload to focus on her mental health.

Constance Wu's disappointment at 'Fresh Off the Boat' being renewed

Constance Wu's disappointment at the renewal of "Fresh Off the Boat" was due to her having to turn down another project that she was passionate about. In a series of tweets, she expressed her frustration, stating that she was “upset" and "crying". She later clarified that her tweets were not because she disliked the show but because she had to give up an opportunity that challenged her as an artist. Wu valued artistic challenge over success and happiness, which some of her closest friends found baffling.

Wu's initial tweets caused a backlash from fans and online commentators who called her ungrateful and a diva. She received death threats and hate messages, and her exchange with another Asian actress was so damaging that Wu attempted suicide. After this incident, she took a social media hiatus and later returned to explain her actions, stating that she had been processing trauma at the time. She also revealed that she had been sexually harassed by a powerful Asian male producer on the show, which added to her frustration.

Despite the controversy, Wu was met with support from her castmates when she returned to filming, and she expressed gratitude for the renewal, calling it a peaceful, happy job. She acknowledged that her initial comments were insensitive and clarified that she loved the show, the cast, and the crew.

Wu's subsequent social media backlash

Constance Wu's negative reaction to the renewal of "Fresh Off the Boat" sparked a social media backlash. The actress, who played Jessica Huang on the ABC sitcom, took to Twitter to express her disappointment in the show's continuation for another season. She wrote, "So upset right now that I'm literally crying. Ugh. F—," followed by a second tweet that read, "F—ing hell."

Wu's tweets caused an uproar among fans of the show, with many accusing her of being ungrateful for the opportunity that brought her into the mainstream. The backlash was so severe that Wu ended up taking a three-year break from social media. During this time, she received support from friends, fans, and co-stars, and underwent therapy to deal with the impact of the backlash.

In the time since the incident, Wu has reflected on her tweets and the subsequent backlash. She has acknowledged that her tweets were insensitive and that she regrets not considering how they might affect her castmates and the wider Asian American community. In interviews, Wu has expressed that she was going through a difficult time and was processing trauma behind the scenes, which contributed to her impulsive behaviour on social media.

Wu's social media backlash also led to a direct message exchange with an unnamed Asian actress, who admonished her for her tweets. Wu has shared that these messages were so damaging that they led her to attempt suicide. She has since forgiven the actress and chosen to focus on her recovery and sharing her story to help others going through similar experiences.

The actress's three-year social media hiatus

Constance Wu took a three-year hiatus from social media after facing backlash for her tweets about the renewal of her TV show, 'Fresh Off the Boat'. The actress, who played the mother, Jessica, in the series, expressed her disappointment and frustration on Twitter, which many interpreted as ingratitude. This sparked a wave of death threats and hate messages, including exchanges with a fellow Asian actress, that took a severe toll on Wu's mental health.

In her tweets, Wu shared that she was "so upset" and "literally crying" about the show's renewal, as it meant she had to turn down another project that she was passionate about. She later clarified that her tweets were not about 'Fresh Off the Boat' itself, but rather about having to let go of a different opportunity. However, the backlash from the public and her colleagues was intense, and she became the target of online shaming and harsh criticism.

Wu revealed that she attempted suicide due to the public's negative reactions to her tweets. In her absence from social media, she focused on her mental health and underwent therapy to recover from the trauma. She also wrote a memoir, 'Making a Scene', during this time, in which she shared personal essays and opened up about her experiences.

Wu eventually returned to social media, sharing her story to raise awareness about mental health, particularly in the Asian American community. She emphasised the importance of addressing uncomfortable issues and reaching out to support those struggling with their mental well-being. Wu's courageous decision to speak out about her struggles helped spark important conversations and encouraged others to seek help.

Wu's suicidal spiral

Constance Wu's spiral into suicidal thoughts was a result of the intense backlash she faced for her negative reaction to the renewal of "Fresh Off the Boat" for its sixth season. In a series of tweets, Wu expressed her disappointment and frustration, which many interpreted as ingratitude. This sparked a torrent of death threats, hate messages, and online harassment from fans and fellow celebrities, including an unnamed Asian actress who was particularly scathing in her criticism.

Wu's tweets, which have since been deleted, were a response to her having to turn down another project she was passionate about—a play—due to the show's renewal. However, there was more to it than met the eye. Wu later revealed that she was also dealing with trauma from enduring years of sexual harassment, intimidation, and manipulation by a powerful Asian male producer on the show. She felt conflicted about speaking out, not wanting to tarnish the reputation of a show that was a beacon of Asian American representation.

The backlash took a severe toll on Wu's mental health, leading her to attempt suicide. She took a three-year break from social media to focus on her recovery, undergoing therapy to process her trauma and regain her emotional well-being.

Her return to the spotlight

Constance Wu's return to the spotlight was marked by her appearance in Prime Video's The Terminal List and the live-action Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile movie. She also confirmed talks for a sequel to Crazy Rich Asians and signed a first-look TV deal with Entertainment One.

Wu's return to the public eye came after a three-year break from social media following the backlash to her negative reaction to the renewal of Fresh Off the Boat for a sixth season. The actress, who played Jessica Huang in the show, took to Twitter to express her disappointment, stating that she was “so upset” and “literally crying”. This sparked outrage among fans, who accused her of being ungrateful, and resulted in a wave of death threats and hate messages.

In the face of severe criticism, Wu initially tried to clarify her comments, explaining that she was upset because she had to give up another project she was passionate about. However, she later admitted that her initial tweets were insensitive and apologised to her castmates and crew. Despite the controversy, Wu returned to film the sixth season of Fresh Off the Boat, receiving an outpouring of support from her colleagues.

In 2022, Wu broke her social media silence to announce her memoir, Making a Scene, and to reveal that she had attempted suicide following the backlash. In the book, Wu details her experiences of sexual harassment and intimidation by a powerful Asian male producer on the set of Fresh Off the Boat. She also alleges that she was date raped by a different man years earlier.

Wu's return to the spotlight was not limited to new acting roles and her book release. She also gave a wide-ranging interview to ABC News' Juju Chang, in which she discussed her mental health, recovery, social media, and thoughts on cancel culture.

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