Ayo Edebiri Calls Out Exclusion in Me Too and Black Lives Matter Question

During the After the Hunt press tour, an interviewer, Federica Polidoro, asked Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield about Hollywood’s future “after the Me Too movement and Black Lives Matter are done.” Ayo Edebiri, who sat beside them, was left out of the question entirely. Polidoro’s decision to bypass her, despite both movements being founded by Black women, immediately highlighted a troubling omission.

Ayo’s direct response

Edebiri paused before stepping in. She noted the exclusion with calm clarity, asking whether it was purposeful before giving her answer. She stated that the Me Too and Black Lives Matter movements are not over. While hashtags may not dominate headlines as they once did, she explained, activists are still carrying out essential work. She emphasized that the fight for justice is ongoing and that daily efforts remain both urgent and alive.

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The history of these movements

Her words carry added weight when placed alongside the origins of these movements. Tarana Burke, a Black woman, began the Me Too campaign in 2006 to support survivors of sexual violence. Black Lives Matter was created in 2013 by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi after the killing of Trayvon Martin. Both movements were conceived, led, and sustained by Black women, making their perspectives vital in any discussion about progress or setbacks.

Why the exclusion matters

The exchange shows how easily Black women can be sidelined from conversations about causes they built. By deliberately directing the question away from Edebiri, Polidoro repeated a pattern of erasure. Yet Edebiri’s presence and her answer reminded audiences that the work of Me Too and Black Lives Matter continues despite fading media attention. Her clarity cut through the noise, affirming that these movements remain as necessary today as when they first began.