A journalist has addressed the criticism she received after being accused of excluding “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri from a conversation regarding the MeToo movement and Black Lives Matter.
Edebiri is part of the ensemble cast in Luca Guadagnino’s latest film, “After the Hunt,” which also features Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield.
The movie, which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, delves into the consequences of a sexual assault claim at Yale. Roberts plays philosophy professor Alma, who grapples with the revelation that a male colleague, portrayed by Garfield, assaulted her protégé, Maggie, played by Edebiri.
During a press junket, Italian journalist Federica Polidoro posed a question to the trio of actors about what had been ‘lost during the politically correct era’ and what to ‘expect in Hollywood after the MeToo movement and the Black Lives Matter are done’.
A puzzled Roberts responded: “With your sunglasses on, I can’t tell which of us you’re talking to.”
Polidoro then clarified that her question was directed to Garfield and Roberts and inquired ‘if we lost something with the politically correct era’.
The actors appeared taken aback, with Garfield visibly uneasy and turning to his co-stars. Edebiri interjected, emphasizing that the efforts of the MeToo and BLM movements ‘isn’t done’.
“I know that that’s not for me, and I don’t know if it’s purposeful if it’s not for me,” she remarked calmly, following her apparent exclusion from the inquiry.
“I don’t think it’s done, 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.”
Garfield supported Edebiri, stating that ‘both movements are still absolutely alive’.
In response to the uproar over her question, Polidoro took to Instagram to comment on the situation, with no apology forthcoming.
“Following an interview, I have 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 journalist expressed on social media.
“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.”
She noted that people were concentrating on her question rather than on ‘the thoughtful responses of Ayo Edebiri, Julia Roberts, and Andrew Garfield’.
She added: “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.
“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.”
Polidoro concluded by reserving ‘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’.
Guadagnino’s film received mixed feedback, currently holding a 51 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.