“Crazy Rich Asians” star Constance Wu has returned to Twitter after nearly three years of radio silence.
The Asian-American actress published a long note to her fans and followers to announce a new book she wrote during her hiatus from the limelight titled “Making a Scene” while also revealing her struggles with her mental health.
Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock
It can be recalled that in 2019, Constance received backlash online for expressing her disappointment over the renewal of the ABC series “Fresh Off the Boat” where she had her breakthrough role as Jessica Huang. “So upset right now that I’m literally crying,” she wrote in one tweet, while she commented “Dislike” under the announcement post of the show’s official Instagram page.
Many fans have since criticized her over her reactions, calling them insensitive to struggling actors, as well as the cast and crew of the show. Constance then released an official statement explaining that her anger was caused by her having to let go of another opportunity that she claimed would have given her “artistic challenge” instead of the “comfort and ease” of reprising her role in “Fresh Off the Boat.” She apologized and expressed her love and gratitude to the cast and crew of the show, but still admitted her conflicted feelings over the renewal.
Now, she revealed that the criticism she received from her tweets at that time “got pretty severe” to the point that she contemplated taking her own life.
“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,” she began in her statement. “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. Looking back, 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: “It was a scary moment that made me reassess a lot in my life. 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. 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.”
She then explained that this was the reason why she wrote her new book in the hopes of helping others who may be going through the same thing “to understand it, to reckon with it, and open pathways to healing.”
“While my book is not 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…lost of ’em!” she added. “After a little break from Hollywood and a lot of therapy I feel OK enough to venture back on here (at least for a little bit). And even though I’m scared, I’ve decided that I owe it to the me-of-3-years-ago to be brave and share my story so that it might help someone with theirs.”
Read the full statement below.
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) July 14, 2022
If you or anyone you love is struggling, here are hotlines you can call:
- National Mental Health Crisis Hotline (Department of Health) – 1553 (Luzon-wide, toll-free), 0917 899 8727, 0966 351 4518, or 0908 639 2672.
- Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF) – (02) 8804-HOPE (4673), 0917 558 HOPE (4673), 0918 873 HOPE (4673), or 2919 (toll-free for GLOBE and TM subscribers)
- Lifeline Rehabilitation Center – 0917 544 8117 or 0919 983 4036
- In Touch Community Services Crisis Lines – (02) 8893 7603, 0917 800 1123, 0922 893 8944, or 0919 056 0709. Email at helpline@in-touch.org.
(ALSO READ: “Crazy Rich Asians” Star Constance Wu is Now a Mom!)
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