10 Movie Franchises That (Almost) Destroyed Their Star

9. Star Wars - Jake Lloyd

There's no denying that Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was one of the most disappointing movies of all time, with fans left underwhelmed by its tedious narrative and rather mediocre assortment of characters.

Many were left dissatisfied by the film's depiction of a young Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker, as played by 8-year-old actor Jake Lloyd, who received flak from fans for his performance.

But of course, Lloyd was simply trying to make do with the wretched dialogue given to him by George Lucas, and he unfortunately ended up serving as a lightning rod for many of the film's wider criticisms.

Following the film's release, Lloyd was extensively bullied at school for his role in the movie, causing him to retire from acting in 2001 and even destroy all of his Star Wars memorabilia. "My entire school life was really a living hell," he said.

In recent years, Lloyd has also struggled with mental health issues, being diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2015 and spending 10 months in jail for reckless driving, driving without a license, and resisting arrest.

As of this past January, Lloyd is living closer to his family, and his mother Lisa Riley insists he's making progress.

Still, we need only look as far as Star Wars fans' recent treatment of Kelly Marie Tran to see how pathetically abusive certain quarters of the fandom can be.