On behalf of Ayo Edebiri—The Bear’s breakout star, the internet’s favourite Letterboxd user, award season sweeper and Ireland’s people’s princess—we’d formally like to request all producers to stop thrusting her into uncomfortable scenarios in the name of achieving a “bit”.
At the 2024 Golden Globes, an event where she took home the first of many accolades of the year in custom Prada, the comedian-turned-actress was inundated with questions about and images of Jeremy Allen White’s NSFW Calvin Klein ad. (“He’s my coworker!” she kept reminding anyone as she was forced to encounter his shirtless visage and extra-tighty whities.)
Now, at the 2024 British Academy Film Arts Awards, more colloquially known as the BAFTAS, the ‘Rising Star’ nominee had to endure an awkward conversation with Britain’s heir apparent, William Prince of Wales.
If you haven’t seen the still of her bamboozled expression upon meeting the former Duke of Cambridge by now, allow us to explain the now-viral interaction.
Watch Ayo Edebiri meet Prince William, here.
The recent Saturday Night Live host met the 41-year-old Prince in a group setting with her fellow category recipients Phoebe Dynevor, Australia’s Sophie Wilde and the award winner, Mia McKenna-Bruce.
Sadly Jacob Elordi, who was also nominated in the division, was absent, otherwise, Prince William may have had a chance to meet the contemporary embodiment of his late mother, Princess Diana. (For the uninitiated, netizens’ baby girl has been compared to the former Princess of Wales thanks to his “Princess Diana coded” mannerisms and outfit choices.)
But when Prince William made a slight, it was Edebiri’s grimaced face that captured the attention of the internet. When congratulating McKenna-Bruce on her lauded portrayal of a victim of sexual assault in How to Have Sex, Prince William remarked, “It looked like you had a lot of fun all the way through.” Cue: The View’s “Oh that’s not…”
Given the sensitive nature of Molly Manning Walker’s coming-of-age debut, it would’ve perhaps been wiser for Prince William to flex his cinephile aptitudes and watch the source material before commenting on the joviality of the filming process. He also remarked that he hadn’t yet watched the film, noting: “Normally I get quiet ahead of the awards ceremony. I get to see quite a few of them. I haven’t managed to get that many through.”
McKenna didn’t mind the faux pas though, laughing it off and urging him to watch the film. At least he, unlike Australia’s former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, didn’t need to confirm with his wife that sexual assault is bad. But perhaps the most erroneous part of the whole situation was planting an (honorary) Irishwoman in front of an English Prince. Hasn’t anyone read their history?
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.