Reporter hits back over viral backlash for excluding Ayo Edebiri from interview question

The reporter who faced backlash for her interview with Ayo Edebiri has hit back.

The Bear actor was praised for her brilliant and impressively calm response when she seemed to be deliberately excluded from a question.

Edebiri was joined by her co-stars Andrew Garfield and Julia Roberts as they did press in Venice for their upcoming movie, After the Hunt.

Reportedly met with some controversy at the film festival, the Luca Guadagnino-directed thriller follows a university student who accuses a professor of rape.

And while interviewing them about the project, film journalist Federica Polidoro wanted to talk about what was supposedly ‘lost during the politically correct era’.

Except she only seemed to want Garfield and Roberts to explain what we ‘have to expect in Hollywood after the MeToo movement and the Black Lives Matter are done’.

The stars were seemingly baffled when Ayo Edebiri was excluded (JB Lacroix/FilmMagic)

Yeah, bizarre. It was even more awkward after the Pretty Woman star prompted her to repeat the question and clarify who she was speaking to.

But Edebiri wasn’t allowing Polidoro to exclude her from such an important topic as she said: “I know that that’s not for me, and I don’t know if it’s purposeful if it’s not for me.

“I just am curious - I don’t think it’s done, I don’t think it’s done at all.”

As the actor skilfully handled the situation and was praised for answering it with ‘poise and grace’, backlash turned to the reporter for leaving Edebiri out in the first place.

And Polidoro has since taken to Instagram to respond to the comments made about her but notably, did not explain her exclusion of the actor.

Federica Polidoro is a film journalist and official international voter for the Golden Globes (Instagram/federica__polidoro)

“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. 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 wrote.

“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.”

Claiming she has been ‘unjustly’ accused of ‘racism’, she wanted to clarify that she has apparently ‘interviewed people of every background and ethnicity’.

“And my own family is multi-ethnic, matriarchal, and feminist, with a significant history of immigration,” Polidoro 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.”

The internet has backed Edebiri in the bizarre situation as she answered Polidoro's question regardless: “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 if 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.”