Journalist Federica Polidoro Addresses Viral Ayo Edebiri Interview

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Federica Polidoro is pushing back.

Following criticism for not including Ayo Edebiri in a discussion about the MeToo movement and Black Lives Matter protests during a joint interview at the Venice Film Festival with Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield, the Italian journalist addressed the backlash that ensued.

In response to an interview, I faced some harsh personal criticisms and verbal assaults due to a question that apparently didn’t sit well with certain members of the public. It’s surprising that those who quickly label me as racist and claim to uphold justice find it acceptable to use abusive language, personal attacks, and cyberbullying instead. (Polidoro wrote in an Instagram statement on Sept. 7)

She explained that while she had been discussing the thoughtful responses from Ayo Edibiri, Julia Roberts, and Andrew Garfield, her conversation was actually centered around finding a better way to phrase the initial question instead.

As for what she asked the After the Hunt costars?

In a recent interview on Arts Life TV, published on September 5th, I reflected on the aftermath of significant movements like MeToo and Black Lives Matter. I pondered about the changes we might see in Hollywood moving forward, as well as potential losses, if any, that may have occurred during this era characterized by increased political correctness.

Roberts, looking puzzled, leaned closer and asked Polidoro to take off her sunglasses as she found it hard to discern who Polidoro was addressing.

After hearing Polidoro ask “for Julia and Andrew”, Edebiri promptly chimed in, expressing that although she realized the question wasn’t meant for her, she firmly believes that it hasn’t been handled yet.

In simpler terms, she stated that although hashtags may not be as prevalent, the efforts made daily by activists are significant, beautiful, and crucial work that is still very much ongoing. This work continues to be actively pursued for a purpose. She emphasized that this work remains far from completion.

TopMob News has reached out to Edebiri’s reps for comment and has not yet heard back.

In my professional opinion as a lifestyle enthusiast, I must confess that there were voices, both from fans and esteemed colleagues, who questioned my emphasis on Edebiri’s two white costars in a recent piece. However, I stand firm and unapologetic, choosing instead to remain committed to highlighting the unique elements of each character in my reporting.

So far, I haven’t found any rulebook that mandates a specific sequence for asking questions during an interview, as stated by Polidoro on September 7th. It is not in line with democratic practices to suppress or discredit questions that may cause discomfort.

In addition, she defended herself against allegations of racism by emphasizing her experience in interacting with individuals from all cultures and ethnicities, as well as the diversity within her own family.

Rather than stating this directly, she expressed her viewpoint as follows: “She believes that true racists are actually those who claim to find racism in every situation and wish to restrict diverse viewpoints, analysis, and intellectual freedom.

Polidoro stated that she reserves the option to safeguard herself legally from individuals who, rather than engaging in a polite and productive conversation, have opted to hurl insults and attacks at her, disguised within a digital crowd.

For more eyebrow-raising online controversies, keep reading.

In 2023, it was Colleen Ballinger herself who had to deal with the music, as her YouTube persona, Miranda Sings, was singing away. However, the Internet sensation faced a storm of allegations regarding grooming and inappropriate relationships with underage fans.

In a now-deleted video titled “why I left the Colleen Ballinger fandom…”, content creator KodeeRants posted screenshots of an alleged text conversation between Colleen and her followers, accusing the comedian of exploiting underage fans.

According to NBC News, the group chat, named “Colleeny’s Weenies,” had screenshots showing Colleen allegedly asking her fans their favorite sexual position. However, NBC News could not verify the authenticity of these screenshots.

A few days later, content creator Adam McIntyre, who initially managed a fan account for Miranda Sings at the age of 10, shared videos on his YouTube channel claiming that Ballinger emotionally manipulates her fans.

Ballinger hasn’t directly addressed these claims, nor did she respond to TopMob News’ request for comment. However, she did address the allegations in a 10-minute ukulele song posted to her personal YouTube account, comparing the accusations to a “toxic gossip train” heading towards “manipulation station,” while the rest of the internet was tying her to the tracks and harassing her for her past.

In July, the remaining dates of her Miranda Sings tour were canceled, and she has been absent from social media since.

The incident began when the writer of “Girl, Wash Your Face” made a post about her house cleaner that subsequently became messier. A snippet from this deleted post was shared by Angie Treasure, revealing Hollis discussing an April 2021 livestream where she spoke about a woman who “cleans the toilets.” Referencing a comment that called her privileged, Hollis admitted to being privileged but also worked hard to afford twice-weekly toilet cleaning services. This commentator then labeled her as unrelatable, to which Hollis responded by stating that icons such as Harriet Tubman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Marie Curie, and Oprah Winfrey were all “unrelatable.”

However, it is essential to note that while selling millions of books is impressive, she is not an abolitionist like Harriet Tubman. Later, Hollis issued an Instagram apology, acknowledging the pain caused by mentioning influential women of color and admitting her failure to understand their struggles and achievements. She also expressed regret for disregarding the people who do hard work but do not have financial security due to biased systems. In conclusion, she stated that she should listen more instead of speaking.

In March 2020, the founder of Something Navy clothing line and original blogger shared with her Instagram followers that she had tested positive for COVID-19, intending to quarantine in her Manhattan apartment with her husband Brandon Charnas and daughters Ruby and Esme. However, just eight days later, her entire household-which included her nanny-decided to relocate to the Hamptons. To put it mildly, this wasn’t her most admirable move. The comments on her Instagram page became increasingly critical as she flaunted taking outdoor walks for “fresh air” instead of adhering to social distancing guidelines.

When her husband cracked that only “hot” people were getting the virus, emotions boiled over.  

Later on, she publicly issued a thorough apology to address various issues – their nanny had also fallen ill with the virus, they ensured safety measures such as having doormen clear the lobby, not stopping for gas, and getting groceries delivered; their Hamptons home was situated on a less populated street. However, the backlash persisted.

Nordstrom, who previously stocked Charnas’ line, decided not to renew their contract that ended in 2019. In response, Charnas, who welcomed her third child named Navy in 2021, shifted towards a direct-to-consumer re-launch, stating “I wanted more control,” and is now back to posting about her favorite Shopbop picks and partnerships with A Pea in the Pod.

On The Glossy Podcast, she admitted, “People expected me to be more considerate of world events, and I should have been.

In 2020, fashion influencer Emily Gellis Lande publicly criticized dietitian Zuckerbrot on social media. She shared anecdotes from anonymous individuals who claimed they had spent thousands of dollars on the F-Factor Diet devised by Zuckerbrot, only to suffer from health problems such as rashes, cramps, and even a miscarriage. The New York Times published an article about this controversy.

Zuckerbrot, represented by lawyer Lanny Davis who was once a White House special counsel for former president Bill Clinton, denied the allegations and asserted that only 50 health complaints had been received out of over 176,000 purchases of her snack bars and powders. She provided a Certificate of Analysis to refute claims about heavy metals in her products and spoke on Today to further defend her program.

Zuckerbrot seems unimpressed by Gellis Lande’s actions. “I think she believes she’s helping people, but she sees the lifestyle I promote as harmful and causing anorexia,” Zuckerbrot said to the Times. “She’s a fashion blogger.”

Zuckerbrot has filed two lawsuits against Gellis Lande, accusing her of initiating a smear campaign to damage her brand. Both cases are still ongoing, and Gellis Lande has denied the allegations.

In 2020, many parts of the world experienced a significant awakening regarding racial issues. However, it was Jessica Mulroney, a friend of Meghan Markle, who found herself in a wake-up call. In an Instagram video, lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter detailed her disagreements with Mulroney. The dispute started when Mulroney allegedly took offense to Exeter’s request for her followers to use their influence positively and support the Black community amidst racial unrest.

According to Exeter, Mulroney responded in a problematic manner, speaking negatively about her to other brands and even sending her a written threat. Although Mulroney initially apologized in a comment on Exeter’s video, she later sent a message that Exeter shared, stating, “Liable [sic] suit. Good luck.”

In response to the controversy, Mulroney posted an apology to her own followers, expressing her intention to amplify Black voices by handing over her account to them and sharing their experiences. However, Canadian television network CTV announced it was dropping her reality show, “I Do, Redo.”

Mulroney’s husband, Ben Mulroney, stepped down from his role as co-host of CTV’s “eTalk,” expressing hope that the new host would be Black, Indigenous, or a person of color who could use the platform to inspire change. Despite this, Jessica Mulroney managed to keep her high-profile friendship with Meghan Markle, publicly stating, “Meghan and I are family. She is the kindest friend.

Known for popular films like “I DUCT TAPED My Brothers $400,000 Dollar TRUCK!” and leaving Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark, the Vine star turned YouTube personality made a move to the big screen in 2020.

On August 5th, federal authorities executed a search warrant at Paul’s home in Calabasas, California, confirming it was connected to an incident that occurred at a Scottsdale, Arizona mall on May 30th. According to police, Paul disregarded orders to leave the Fashion Square Mall during a Black Lives Matter protest he was broadcasting live from. Although Paul stated on Twitter that neither he nor his group were engaged in any looting or vandalism, speculation about the FBI raid grew as large as his YouTube following.

Footage from a local ABC station showed multiple firearms being taken away by police, and in an Aug 12 video since deleted, Paul claimed the search was “entirely related to the Arizona looting situation” and that it had nothing to do with him or his character. Although no charges were filed, Paul’s attorney told TopMob News they would cooperate with the investigation.

Approximately a year post their reconciliation, the popular YouTube personality once again found himself embroiled in conflicts. In an August 2020 tweet subtly criticizing celebrities launching makeup lines, he implied that Alicia Keys, known for her natural look, didn’t deserve a skincare collection. He later apologized, acknowledging he wasn’t the arbiter of beauty standards.

However, barely two weeks later, he faced another controversy when he criticized Lauren Conrad’s new beauty line on Instagram. In a series of stories, he shared pictures of empty packaging from her brand with his 22 million followers, implying that she didn’t belong in the makeup industry. Conrad humorously admitted to the mistake on Instagram, blaming the person responsible for preparing the gifts, hinting at herself. She explained that while testing product fitment, she accidentally included the bag of empties in the shipment.

Fortunately for Conrad, no tears were shed, as she was quick to acknowledge her error and share that the responsible individual would be terminated. Charles later apologized, stating his intentions were humorous, and sharing that he had privately resolved the misunderstanding with Conrad. It’s evident, though, that he understands the impact of his actions.

In May 2020, vlogger and YouTuber Myka Stauffer, from The Stauffer Life channel, began a video by stating it was their hardest public announcement yet, suggesting it wouldn’t be about sharing her newborn routine or diet. Instead, she and her husband announced they had rehomed their 4-year-old son Huxley, whom they adopted from China in 2017, with a new family due to the challenges of managing his autism.

The reaction from their almost one million subscribers was predominantly outraged, with fans questioning whether the couple, parents to four other children, were either naive or had exploited Huxley for views and donations before abandoning him when caring for him became too difficult. They lost followers, brand collaborators like Fabletics, Suave, Danimals ended their partnerships, and even Ohio’s Delaware County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to TopMob News that they were investigating Huxley’s well-being.

Later in June, authorities announced they had closed the case without filing any charges. However, Myka’s brand remains dormant since she issued a lengthy apology for her naivety during the adoption process and clarified that they were not under investigation.

In response to the criticism stirred up by TikToker Kaitlyn Teaches, who humorously posted a video showcasing a lunch her husband prepared for her containing dog food and slightly old Chipotle, she openly addressed the wave of negativity that followed their playful prank.

She stated in a recent TikTok video in September 2025, ‘Let’s discuss the events of the weekend.’ It seems many people are upset because he referred to her as a ‘dog.’

She clarified, speaking more slowly, ‘He didn’t call me a ‘dog.’ He actually used the term ‘dawg,’ which is informal slang for ‘homie.’ Among us, it’s a friendly nickname. It was just a joke, not meant seriously, ‘joke.’

I’ve made mistakes in the past, but I am learning and growing. I promise to make you proud.

In October 2019, the YouTube personalities known as the Stokes Twins played a prank that turned sour. They dressed in black like robbers and hailed an Uber, intending to use it as a getaway car while filming the stunt. The unsuspecting Uber driver was not amused and refused to leave, leading a bystander to call the police.

Upon arrival, Irvine police pointed a gun at the driver and ordered him out of the vehicle. Once it was confirmed he wasn’t involved, the driver was released. The police then warned the Stokes Twins about the dangers of their prank.

Four hours later, they repeated the stunt on the University of California, Irvine campus, which resulted in their arrest. If convicted for false imprisonment and swatting charges, they could have faced up to four years in prison. However, Orange County D.A. Todd Spitzer was critical of their actions, stating that such pranks could have caused serious injury or death.

In a 2020 statement, their lawyer claimed that the twins were not guilty of any crimes. Nevertheless, they pleaded guilty to lesser charges of misdemeanor false imprisonment and reporting false emergencies, receiving 160 hours of community service and one year of probation.

In a dramatic turn of events, the internet personality known as the “King of YouTube” due to his extensive videos amassing 34 million followers, Dawson, faced the termination of his reign in June 2020. This was triggered by an inflammatory tweet he posted and subsequently deleted, criticizing the online beauty community, particularly James Charles, for being attention-seeking, manipulative, selfish, arrogant, vindictive, two-faced, and volatile. His harsh words didn’t sit well with his followers who argued that those living in gilded virtual realms shouldn’t cast stones.

In quick succession, Dawson posted a 20-minute video titled “Taking Accountability” where he expressed remorse for past actions, stating, “I have a lot of regrets about my past, including instances where I used blackface, made racist remarks and jokes, pedophilic comments, and sexualized an underage Willow Smith in a video.” He added, “This video is born out of a desire to take responsibility for my actions, to acknowledge everything I’ve done on the internet that has caused harm, contributed to problems, and not been handled appropriately.” His actions led to YouTube suspending his ability to monetize his three accounts.

He re-emerged as content creator in 2021, expressing gratitude for his ‘cancellation’, stating, “I’m thankful that I was cancelled, because it truly transformed my life.

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2025-09-08 18:47