Warning: SPOILERS for the book Star Wars Aftermath: Empire's End are ahead!
If you're a Star Wars fan, chances are you don't think fondly of Jar Jar Binks, the Gungan klutz introduced in 1999's The Phantom Menace. Jar Jar has been an easy source of ridicule, both in the real world and the Star Wars universe, and has been met with almost universally negative reception. Although he was around for all of the Prequel Trilogy, the official Star Wars canon has never addressed what happened to him after the Empire took control...until now. Apparently in the years after Return of the Jedi, Jar Jar spent his life as a street performer. Seriously!
Star Wars Aftermath: Empire's End, the final entry in the Aftermath trilogy written by author Chuck Wendig, is hitting bookshelves soon, and during the story, there's a scene involving a refugee boy named Mapo on Naboo. While exploring the streets, he comes across a Gungan clown who is performing for children near a fountain. While the young'uns are entertained by his antics, the adults take care to avoid him. In case you need further proof this is Jar Jar, the Gungan introduces himself as such to Mapo. While Jar Jar is successful in cheering up the boy, he's dealing with his own inner turmoil, telling Mapo he "maken some uh-oh mistakens" and that the people on Naboo think he helped the Empire.
In case you need a refresher, before Attack of the Clones, Jar Jar Binks had been appointed to be a representative for Naboo at the Galactic Senate. After it was revealed that Count Dooku and the Separatists had created a droid army, and with Padme Amidala occupied with Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine and Geonosis, Jar Jar decided to argue for the Senate to give Chancellor Palpatine emergency powers, and he was successful. At the time it seemed like a good idea since the Republic would receive a clone army to properly combat the Separatists. In the end, though, Jar Jar's decision proved to be devastating, as three years later, Palpatine declared himself Emperor and created the Galactic Empire. Chronologically, Jar Jar hasn't been seen since Revenge of the Sith, although he did appear in the Clone Wars prequel TV series.
Evidently folks weren't too keen on the role that Jar Jar Binks played in the dictatorial Empire's rise to power, as decades later, he no longer retains his political position and has been forced to be a clown to get by. As the Mashable article that passed along this information noted, this scene also works as meta-referencing of how Jar Jar is received in the real world. Most adults can't stand him, but many kids find him entertaining. Since there was almost zero chance that Jar Jar would return for more Star Wars movies, the Empire's End book was the best way to provide resolution to the few of you who wanted to know what happened to the clumsy Gungan after the Prequel Trilogy.
The Star Wars saga continues in December with The Last Jedi, but don't expect to see Jar Jar Binks involved in any of the new adventures. It would seem that his story has finally concluded.
