Ayo Edebiri Isn’t Phased by That Viral Interview

"I think in a strange way, an uncomfortable conversation is one of the many things our film is about,” Edebiri said during a panel at the New York Film Festival.

By Audra Heinrichs | September 26, 2025 | 4:46pm

Photo: Getty Images Entertainment Movies

Ayo Edebiri Isn’t Phased by That Viral Interview

On Friday, Lucas Guadagnino’s After The Hunt premiered at the New York Film Festival. Following the screening, the buzzy film’s ensemble cast (including Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, and Michael Stuhlbarg), writer Nora Garrett, and Guadagnino himself convened for a Q&A. Among the topics of conversation were how Guadagnino defines himself as a filmmaker (spoiler alert: not a provocateur despite speculation), the film’s approach to depicting the impact of so-called cancel culture, and that viral interview in which an Italian journalist asserted that “the #MeToo movement and the Black Lives Matter [movement] are done.”

In case you missed this particular news cycle, Roberts, Garfield, and Edebiri sat down with ArtsLife TV as part of a press junket for After The Hunt earlier this month. During their chat, the journalist, Federica Polidoro, made a point of prompting only Roberts and Garfield: “Now that the MeToo era and the Black Lives era are done, what do we have to expect in Hollywood and what (did we lose) if we lost something during the politically correct era?” Their response, as I’m sure you can imagine, ranged from flummoxed to frustration thinly veiled by feigned politeness.

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“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,” Edebiri replied. “And that work isn’t finished at all.”

She added: “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. That’s what I would say.”

The clip—namely Polidoro’s question—sparked significant backlash, with many pointing out the inherent racism in a person who isn’t Black directing a question that includes the purported “death” of the BLM movement to everyone but the only Black woman in the room. Naturally, Polidoro shirked any allegations of racism in a statement posted to Instagram. None of this, however, has phased Edebiri.

“I think I’m like, less online than I used to be,” Edebiri told the audience when asked about the interview. When the admission received ample applause, she tacked on: “Yeah, clap for peace of mind.” I, too, am applauding from behind my keyboard.

“To be completely honest—and I love to lie, I make money lying…just kidding,” she went on. “I didn’t really pay too much attention, but I think it was a very human moment and I think in a strange way, an uncomfortable conversation is one of the many things our film is about. So, shoutout to tie-ins, I don’t know!” Alrighty, then…

After the Hunt tells the story of a college student (Edebiri) who levels a hefty allegation against her professor (Garfield) while a colleague (Roberts) finds herself caught in the middle. Since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the film has received a pretty split reception. Several critics haven taken particular issue with its approach to society’s treatment of sexual assault survivors, the glaring chasms between Gen Z and older generations, and the like. The Guardian, for instance, called it a “bafflingly overlong, overwrought #MeToo campus accusation drama,” and The Film Stage deemed it “regressive and unimaginative.” Unfortunately, I agree with both takes in that it’s not only an “overwrought #MeToo campus accusation drama” and “regressive and unimaginative” but also a silly, less-than-sharp skewering of a culture that doesn’t actually exist–especially not in the era of Donald Trump. Don’t worry, my full review is forthcoming.

Meanwhile, when Guadganino was asked whether he saw the film as a “wake-up call” where cancel culture is concerned, he ever-so-slightly disagreed. Apparently, the real wake-up calls come when we effectively communicate with each other.

“That’s the only thing that I really, really fondly care for,” Guadagnino said. “I love people, and I love to listen to people. And I love to argue with people, and I love to change my mind from the way people think and see things. It’s the beauty of life.”

Frankly, if After The Hunt achieved anything it’s convincing me that I don’t actually want to communicate with anyone for the foreseeable future…

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