Constance Wu revealed on Thursday that she attempted suicide after commenting on social media several years ago.
“Hi everyone. I haven’t been on social media in almost 3 years. Tbh I’m a little scared but I’m dipping my toe back in to say I’m here and while I was away I wrote a book called ‘Making a Scene’,” the 40-year-old actress wrote in a long letter to fans posted via Twitter on Thursday.
“This next part is hard to talk about… but I was afraid to come back on social media because I almost lost my life to it: 3 years ago, when I carelessly tweeted about the revamp of my TV show , it caused outrage and internet shaming that got pretty serious,” she continued.
“I felt terrible about what I had said, and when a couple of DMs from a fellow Asian actress told me I was going to be a plague to the Asian-American community, I felt like I didn’t even deserve to say more. life. That I was a disgrace to AsAms [Asian Americans], and they’d be better off without me. Looking back, it’s unreal that a few DMs convinced me to end my own life, but that’s what happened.”
Wu – who tweeted in 2019 that she was “so upset” and “literally cried” over the renewal of her ABC sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat” – said a friend intervened to save her.
“Luckily, a friend found me and rushed me to the emergency room. It was a scary moment that left me reassessing a lot in my life. Over the next few years, I put my career aside to focus on my mental health. AsAms doesn’t talk enough about mental health,” the “Hustlers” star explained.
“While we quickly celebrate Representatives’ victories, much is avoided around the more inconvenient issues within our community. Even my tweets became a topic so sensitive that most of my AsAm colleagues decided now was the right time to avoid or exclude me.”
Wu went on to say she felt “hurt” by those who abandoned her after her tweets.
“But it also made me realize how important it is to reach out and care for those who are struggling. That’s why I wrote my book and why I’m here today to help people talk about the uncomfortable things to understand it, take it into account and open paths to healing,” she wrote.
“If we want to be seen, really seen… we all have to show ourselves, including the parts we fear or are ashamed of – parts that, however imperfect, need care and attention. And we need to stop beating each other (and ourselves) when we do.”
The “Crazy Rich Asians” actress admitted that her upcoming tome she wrote during her hiatus is “not always the most flattering rendition.” But it’s “as honest as I can be,” she noted.
‘Because the truth is, I’m not poised, graceful, or perfect. I am emotional. I make mistakes…a lot of them!” she concluded. “After a short break from Hollywood and a lot of therapy, I feel good enough to continue here (at least for a little bit). And although I’m scared, I’ve decided that I owe it to the me-of-three years ago to be brave and share my story so it can help someone with theirs.”
Wu previously stated that her negative reaction to the “FOTB” revamp was because it meant “giving up another project that I was really passionate about.” She further clarified the intent behind her tweet in an August 2019 interview with The Los Angeles Times, in which she called herself “dramatic.”
“I had this moment of heat where I got upset because I had to give up a job that I was looking forward to and aspiring to for a while,” she said.
“It touched me how many people on the show reached out to me, and even on set… to say, ‘You know, we love you and we know who you are, and you didn’t deserve that stuff.’ Because they also know I’m an actress – I can be dramatic.”
“Fresh Off the Boat” ended its six-season run in February 2020.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).