Ayo Edebiri challenged the premise of a viral question at the Venice press tour for After the Hunt, stepping in after a reporter directed a query about “what to expect in Hollywood after Me Too and Black Lives Matter are done” only to co-stars Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield. “I don’t think it’s done at all… there’s work being done by activists, by people every day… that’s not finished,” Edebiri said, with Garfield voicing agreement that the movements remain active. Clips of the exchange circulated widely as viewers noted Edebiri had not been addressed in the question.
The moment unfolded as the reporter pressed the actors on whether something had been “lost during the politically correct era.” Edebiri prefaced her answer by acknowledging the question wasn’t aimed at her and then underscored that headlines may ebb while on-the-ground organizing continues. Coverage of the incident amplified the video and quotes from the press room, with many observers highlighting how the framing assumed the movements had ended.
Following online criticism, the journalist issued a statement on Instagram saying she had faced “personal insults and attacks,” rejecting accusations of racism and defending the role of asking difficult questions. Posts circulating her response noted that she warned against “cyberbullying” and suggested legal recourse against abusive messages.
The exchange arrives as After the Hunt draws attention for its subject matter and timing on the festival circuit. The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino and co-starring Edebiri and Garfield opposite Roberts, premiered out of competition at Venice on August 29 and centers on a university professor navigating fallout from a sexual assault allegation involving a colleague and a student. Early coverage describes a divisive reception that nonetheless spotlights Roberts’ performance, with a U.S. theatrical release planned for October.
