A journalist has responded after Ayo Edebiri was excluded from a question about Me Too and Black Lives Matter.
Federica Polidoro faced widespread criticism after interviewing After The Hunt stars Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri at Venice Film Festival.
A question Polidoro asked Garfield and Roberts about Me Too and BLM went viral and made headlines, prompting online debate over why the question was directed only at Edebiri’s white co-stars.
Polidoro asked Garfield and Roberts what “to expect in Hollywood after the MeToo movement and the Black Lives Matter are done.”
At the time, Roberts asked Polidoro to clarify who she was asking the question, to which Polidoro confirmed she was asking Garfield and Roberts.
In footage from the interview, all the actors looked visibly surprised the question was only addressing Garfield and Roberts. And Edebiri responded herself.
“Yeah, I know that that's not for me, and I don't know if it's purposeful it's not for me, but I just am curious,” Edebiri said.
“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,” she continued.
“That's really, really, really active for a reason, 'cause this world is 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 that it means that the work is done.
“That's what I would say."
Now, Polidoro has responded to the criticism in a statement on Instagram.
"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 wrote.
"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 Edibiri, Julia Roberts, and Andrew Garfield," she continued, "the discussion continues solely on how I should have phrased the question."
“To date, I am not aware of any protocol that dictates the order in which questions must be asked in an interview,” she added.
Polidoro claims she has been “unjustly” accused of racism.
“To those who unjustly accuse me of racism, 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,” she said.
“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 rigor.
“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.”
She ended her statement saying she “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”.
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