Ayo Edebiri’s facial expressions are about to take you on a journey.
The “Bear” star has gone viral thanks to the way she recently navigated a very tense interview moment. Meanwhile, an Italian journalist who was interviewing Edebiri was forced to release a statement Sunday, writing on Instagram 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.”
The incident occurred last week while Edebiri and her co-stars, Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield, were speaking to the Italian outlet ArtsLife Tv about their upcoming movie “After the Hunt,” and the reporter, Federica Polidoro, asked the actors what they felt had been “lost during the politically correct era” of America.
“What [do] we have to expect in Hollywood after the MeToo movement and the Black Lives Matter are done?” she asked.
Andrew Garfield, Luca Guadagnino, Julia Roberts and Ayo Edebiri pose on the red carpet during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on Aug. 29, 2025.
JB Lacroix via Getty Images
Although Polidoro’s question might have made some sense in the context of the film — considering that the Luca Guadagnino-helmed project explores both those themes — what made the question odd was that the Italian journalist specifically addressed Roberts and Garfield, but not Edebiri, who is a Black woman.
“The two of you,” she said immediately after she asked the question, clarifying she was speaking specifically to the white actors.
Ayo Edebiri expressing a plethora of emotions during an interview with her “After the Hunt” co-stars Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield.
Screenshot ArtsLife Tv via YouTube
In response to the question, a stunned Garfield dramatically turned to his co-stars and let out a flabbergasted laugh.
“Um, well, OK,” a shocked and visibly upset Edebiri began as Roberts, who appeared perplexed, turned to Edebiri apologetically.
Roberts then tried to give the reporter an out.
“Uh, can you repeat that?” Roberts asked. “With your sunglasses on, I can’t tell which one of us you’re talking to, so—”
Roberts asking the reporter to clarify whom she was speaking to.
Screenshot ArtsLife Tv via YouTube
“So, the question was for Julia and Andrew,” Polidoro clarified before repeating her question.
In response, a range of emotions flashed across Edebiri’s face, from comprehension, shock, disgust and anger to disgruntled acceptance.
“It’s not done,” Roberts began.
“Yeah, I know that that’s not for me, and I don’t know if it’s purposeful [that] it’s not for me, but … I don’t think it’s done,” Edebiri said of Americans fighting for racial and gender equality.
She added, “Maybe if 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 it means that the work is done. That’s what I would say.”
“I don’t think it’s done at all,” 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 work is] really, really, really active for a reason, because this world is really charged, and that work isn’t finished at all.”
When a clip of the moment made its way to social media platforms like X and Reddit, some users praised Edebiri for how she handled the situation.
“Jesus look how hard she’s working to make sure she can speak up for herself and others without seeming difficult. That must be fucking exhausting,” a Reddit user pointed out.
“The way Andrew spun around to face Ayo, and the way Julia called that woman out for wearing her sunglasses…I love that disgusted, united front,” another Redditor said.
In her Instagram statement Sunday, Polidoro did not address why she excluded Edebiri in her question. Instead, she wrote that she found it “striking” that people “who unjustly accuse me of racism and consider themselves custodians of justice” think it’s OK to send her messages that include “violent language, personal attacks, and cyberbullying.”
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“Censoring or delegitimizing questions considered ‘uncomfortable’ does not fall within the practice of democracy,” she wrote. “To those who unjustly accuse me of racism, I 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.”
She added, “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.”