Constance WuPhoto: John Kopaloff (Getty Images)
It’s been four years since Crazy Rich Asians catapulted Constance Wu—now the star of Fresh Off The Boat, ABC’s wildly successful sitcom—into the realm of movie stardom. But it was also a period that was paradoxically quiet for the actor, who only recently returned to regular acting with a starring role in Netflix’s The Terminal List.
Wu has now spoken of retiring from both Hollywood and social media – and, more shockingly, revealed that she tried to take her own life three years ago, amid controversy over tweets she made about the renewal of Fresh Off The Boat for a new season.
“This caused outrage and shame on the internet that became quite severe,” Wu wrote, referring to an incident in 2019 in which she welcomed the news that Fresh would be renewed for a sixth season with a number of comments suggesting that is unhappy with the news.
Wu, who wrote that she “almost lost her life” on social media during the incident:
I felt terrible about what I had said, and when several DMs from another Asian actress told me that I had become a stain on the Asian American community, I began to feel like I didn’t even deserve to live anymore. That I was a disgrace to the AsAms and they would be better off without me. Looking back, it’s surreal that several DMs convinced me to end my life, but it happened. Luckily, a friend found me and took me to the emergency room.
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Wu says the ensuing period of self-reflection and focus on her mental health inspired her to write a new book, Making A Scene — “to reach out and help people talk about the uncomfortable stuff to understand, come to terms with, and opens pathways to healing.”
Wu ended his statement by noting that “after a little break from Hollywood and a lot of therapy, it feels good to venture back [social media].”
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255.
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