It’s been four years since Crazy Rich Asians catapulted Constance Wu—already the star of Fresh Off The Boat, a highly successful sitcom on ABC—into the realms of film. But this was also a time that was paradoxically quiet for the actor, who only recently returned to regular acting with a starring role in Netflix’s The Terminal List. Now, Wu has opened up about leaving both Hollywood and social media — and, most shockingly, revealed that she tried to kill herself three years ago amid controversy over tweets she made about her renewal Fresh Off The Boat for a new season. “It started an internet outrage and shame that got pretty serious,” Wu writes, referring to an incident in 2019 in which she greeted the news that Fresh would be renewed for a sixth season with a series of comments suggesting she was unhappy with the news. Wu, who writes that she “almost lost her life” on social media during the incident: I felt terrible about what I had said, and when a few DMs from a fellow Asian actress told me I was going to be a scourge on the Asian-American community, I started to feel like I didn’t even deserve to live anymore. That I was a disgrace to AsAms, and they would be better off without me. Looking back, it’s surreal that a few DMs convinced me to end my life, but it happened. Luckily, a friend found me and took me to the ER. G/O Media may receive a commission Wu says the subsequent 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, figure and open pathways to healing.” Wu ends her statement by noting that, “after a little break from Hollywood and a lot of therapy, I feel okay 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.
