Actor Ayo Edebiri has won widespread praise for her calm yet powerful response at the Venice Film Festival after being left out of a sensitive question directed only to her co-stars Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield. The press conference was for Luca Guadagnino’s new film After the Hunt, where Edebiri stars alongside Roberts and Garfield.
The moment unfolded during an interview with ArtsLife TV, when the journalist asked Roberts and Garfield how Hollywood had changed “after the #MeToo movement and the Black Lives Matter are done.” The phrasing suggested that both movements had ended, sparking confusion and criticism. Roberts asked for clarification, pointing out the vagueness of the question, while the interviewer doubled down, insisting the question was meant only for Roberts and Garfield.
Edebiri, who had not been addressed, chose to respond with composure. She noted that although hashtags may not dominate headlines the way they once did, the activism behind both movements is far from over. “I don’t think it’s done,” she explained. “There’s work being done every day by activists and people whose efforts remain vital and ongoing. That work is not finished at all.”
Andrew Garfield echoed her perspective, stating that both #MeToo and Black Lives Matter are “absolutely still alive.” Edebiri further emphasized that the decline in media attention does not mean the struggles have ended, highlighting the importance of continuous awareness.
The exchange quickly went viral online, with social media users praising Edebiri’s grace under pressure. Many noted how rare it was to see one cast member intentionally excluded from such a question. Fans applauded her clarity, with one commenting, “Ayo handled that with such calm and power—it’s the perfect example of answering a hard question without feeding unnecessary drama.”
Observers also pointed out that both #MeToo and Black Lives Matter were founded by Black women, making Edebiri’s response even more significant. Supporters argued that her voice should have been central to the discussion from the start.
After the Hunt, which premiered in Venice, directly grapples with the themes of accountability and power dynamics. Julia Roberts plays a university professor confronting her past after her promising student, portrayed by Ayo Edebiri, accuses a colleague, played by Andrew Garfield, of sexual assault. The film is set to screen at the New York Film Festival before its theatrical release on October 10 under Amazon MGM Studios.