Ayo Edebiri’s Response to Interview Question with Julia Roberts Goes Viral

Ayo Edebiri is going viral for her response to a question during a cringeworthy interview moment.

The Emmy winner responded with grace during an interview with Italian outlet ArtsLife Tv alongside her After the Hunt costars Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield, when journalist Federica Polidoro directed a question about the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements only to Roberts and Garfield.

“Can you repeat that? With your sunglasses on I can’t tell which of us you’re talking to,” said Roberts, 57, seemingly giving the interviewer a chance to redirect her question after Garfield, 42, turned to look at his costars with an uncomfortable laugh and Edebiri, 29, said, “Um… well….”

“Now that the #MeToo era and the Black Lives Matter [movement] are done, what do we have to expect in Hollywood?” Polidoro asked again, also noting what she termed as “what we lost … with the politically correct era.”

Edebiri responded immediately, saying of the question posed, “Yeah, I know that that’s not for me, and I don’t know if it’s purposeful it’s not for me, but I just am curious.”

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The Bear actress continued of the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements, “I don’t think it’s done. I don’t think it’s done at all,” as Roberts echoed, “It’s not done.”

Edebiri continued, “I think maybe hashtags might not be used as much, but I do think that there’s work being done by activists, by people, every day, that’s beautiful, important work that’s not finished — that’s really, really, really active for a reason, ’cause this world is really charged. And that work isn’t finished at all.”

“Maybe there’s not mainstream coverage in the way that there might have been, daily headlines in the way that it might have been eight or so years ago, but I don’t think that it means that the work is done,” she added. “That’s what I would say.”

Agreed Garfield, “And that the movements have been halted in any way… the movements are still absolutely alive, as [Ayo said] — just maybe not as labeled and covered, or witnessed or magnified as much in this present moment.”

Fans reacted with praise to Edebiri’s answer, including one X user who described the actress’s response as being characterized by “poise and grace” and another who described her as “a superstar class act.”

“Ayo Edebiri the queen that you are,” another fan wrote.

Another person wrote on X: “so insane to me that the interviewer would ask a question regarding the black lives matter movement, then proceed to deliberately exclude the only black person in the room… anyway ayo handled this beautifully and her answer was very insightful.”

Polidoro responded to the backlash about the way her question was worded, writing in a lengthy Instagram statement that she has “been subjected to personal insults and attacks because of a question that, for some reason, was not well received by some members of the public.”

She went on to say that she “would like to clarify that, rather than focusing on the thoughtful responses of Ayo Edebiri, Julia Roberts, and Andrew Garfield, the discussion continues solely on how I should have phrased the question. All the contributions from those present were reported in full in the published interview, without any omissions.”

Polidoro also addressed “Those who unjustly accuse me of racism,” saying she “would like to clarify that in my work I have interviewed people of every background and ethnicity, and my own family is multi-ethnic, matriarchal, and feminist, with a significant history of immigration. I have collaborated for over twenty years with numerous national and international publications of all political orientations, always approaching my work with openness and professional rigor.”

“In my view, the real racists are those who see racism everywhere and seek to muzzle journalism, limiting freedom of analysis, critical thinking, and the plurality of perspectives,” she added in part. “Journalism’s role is to ask questions, even on delicate topics, with respect and responsibility.”

After the Hunt follows Roberts as an Ivy League professor who “finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student (Edebiri) makes an accusation against one of her colleagues (Garfield), and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light,” according to a synopsis.

During a press conference at the Venice International Film Festival on Aug. 29, Roberts fielded questions from a reporter who suggested some have felt the movie “undermines feminist principles and undermines the feminist struggle” in a post-#MeToo world.

“The thing you just said that I love is that it ‘revives old arguments,’ ” the Oscar winner responded. “I don’t necessarily think it’s reviving just an argument of women being pitted against each other or not supporting each other. There’s a lot of old arguments that get rejuvenated in this movie in a way that that does creates conversation.”

“The best part of your question is you talking about how you all came out of the theater talking about it, and that’s how we wanted it to feel, that everybody comes out with all these different feelings and emotions and points of views and things that you realize what you believe in strongly. Because we stir it all up for you,” she continued, adding with a laugh, “So, you’re welcome.”

After the Hunt is in select theaters Oct. 10, then everywhere Oct. 17.