Star Wars actor Liam Neeson, who played Qui-Gon Jinn in the prequels, has commented on the backlash to the Jar Jar Binks character. Speaking to Empire, Neeson said he fondly remembers working with Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best during the production of the prequels, and said the blowback that Best received was offensive to himself and Obi-Wan actor Ewan McGregor.

"Ahmed was so funny and inventive," Neeson said. "Myself and Ewan were personally hurt and offended by the critical reaction to the character."

Best did the voice and motion capture for Jar Jar Binks, a CGI character, starting with 1999's Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Critics and fans had a lot of negative things to say about Jar Jar Binks, and some said the character was a racist caricature.