An Italian reporter has clapped back at the backlash she recieved after interviewing Ayo Edebiri, Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield about Black Lives Matter and the Me Too movement.
While promoting After the Hunt at the Venice Film Festival, Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and Ayo Edebiri sat down with ArtsLife TV’s Federica Polidoro. In the interview, which has since amassed 27 million views on Twitter alone, Federica questioned what “to expect in Hollywood after the #MeToo movement and the Black Lives Matter are done.”
“Can you repeat that? And with your sunglasses on, I can’t tell which of us you’re talking to,” Julia then questioned, with the journalist aiming her question specifically at Julia and Andrew Garfield and not Ayo Edebiri.
She also questioned whether “we lost something with the politically correct era”, and while the question was not directed at her, people applauded Ayo’s response.
after being deliberately excluded, ayo edebiri answering a question about the political state of the hashtag “metoo” and “black lives matter” movement with poise and grace for ‘after the hunt’ press in venice pic.twitter.com/svhW7AF06B
— ayo’s wannabe best friend
(@writtenbyayo) September 6, 2025
“I know that that’s not for me, and I don’t know if it’s purposeful if it’s not for me… [but] I don’t think it’s done,” she said, visibly shocked.
“I don’t think it’s done at all. 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 active for a reason because this world’s 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 it means that the work is done. That’s what I would say.”
The interview was widely condemned online, as one person said: “First of all… if you are talking about MeToo, why ask Andrew and exclude a woman sitting there?”
Aside from Ayo Edebiri being a superstar class act, if I was a journalist and made Julia Roberts lean forward and speak to me this sternly I would simply turn in my media badge, fill my pockets with rocks and walk into the ocean https://t.co/yfHYMMqOoF
— Tom Zohar (@TomZohar) September 6, 2025
“Aside from Ayo Edebiri being a superstar class act, if I were a journalist and made Julia Roberts lean forward and speak to me this sternly, I would simply turn in my media badge, fill my pockets with rocks and walk into the ocean,” someone else wrote.
“The nerve, arrogance and unprofessionalism of the interviewer… don’t p*ss me off,” a third said.
Federica Polidoro has responded to backlash over her Ayo Edebiri interview
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Film Journalist & Theorist (@federica__polidoro)Federica Polidoro posted a huge response to the Ayo Edebiri interview backlash, claiming she was 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 explained: “I find it striking that those who unjustly accuse me of racism and consider themselves custodians of justice find acceptable violent language, personal attacks, and cyberbullying.
“I 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.
“To date, I am not aware of any protocol that dictates the order in which questions must be asked in an interview. Censoring or delegitimising questions considered ‘uncomfortable’ does not fall within the practice of democracy. Only the Journalists’ Association is authorised to evaluate the work of professionals in the field, not social media tribunals.”
— Ayo Edebiri Fashion (@ayoedebiristyle) September 6, 2025
Specifically addressing the accusations of racism, Federica argued that she has always “interviewed people of every background and ethnicity” as someone whose family is “multi-ethnic, matriarchal, and feminist.”
She continued: “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 rigour. 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.
“Journalism’s role is to ask questions, even on delicate topics, with respect and responsibility. I will not tolerate or accept defamatory or violent language, and I reserve the right to seek legal protection against those who, in recent days, have chosen to hide behind the digital mob to insult and attack me instead of seeking a civil and constructive discussion.”
Ayo Edebiri, Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield are yet to publicly comment on the viral interview.
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