Jake Lloyd received a lot of criticism for his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker – and Howard wasn’t having it

Director Ron Howard once wrote a furious letter over an outlet’s coverage of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace back in 1999.

The article was published in the run up to the Star Wars prequel’s release – one of the most hotly anticipated movies at the time.

It was published before the film’s release and was responding to the trailer, with a few short sections on the various aspects of the movie and its production.

In a section called ‘The Kid Can’t Act’, it made a jab at Jake Lloyd’s performance, quoting ‘insiders’ and saying ‘word is he stinks’.

He was also referred to as ‘Mannequin Skywalker’.

Lloyd, who was nine when he starred in the movie, received a lot of criticism for his role as Skywalker – now 35, he has since retired from acting.

But Howard wasn’t having it.

He responded with a letter in which he admonished the outlet for taking a ‘pot shot’ at Lloyd, calling it ‘down right irresponsible’.

The director went on to call attacking a child’s performance without even seeing the film ‘shameful’.

Referencing his own time as a child star, he added: “I can assure you that nine year old Jake is quite capable of reading, understanding and feeling the full humiliation of a piece like that.

“He may not be able to comprehend the reason that it was printed, however, but then obviously neither can I.”

You can read his full letter below:

Newsweek

According to the writer, Seth Stevenson, the piece he’d wrote in Newsweek ‘harboured’ a few of the concerns Star Wars fans had at the time.

“There were worries it would rely too much on cheesy CGI. People fretted that the tone of the trailer seemed way too upbeat, not dark enough.” he wrote on Slate in 2015.

He then claimed ‘within days’ of the article being published, Howard’s letter was sent to his editor.

The letter was then published by Newsweek under the headline ‘Pick On Someone Your Own Size’, he also said.

However, some were impressed by Howard coming to the defence of Lloyd in the letter and took to social media to share their thoughts.

Sam Levi/WireImage

One wrote: “I’m glad he brought up his own child acting experience from his Andy Griffen days; he understands how hard all this was on the kid.”

A second posted: “Major respect to him for standing up for Jake.”

Someone else replied: “Even if you don’t like Ep 1 there’s no reason to attack a 9 year old kid.”

Meanwhile, another simply wrote: “This is why Ron Howard is the man.”