Ayo Edebiri, a burgeoning talent in Hollywood, has been making waves in the industry. The actress recently earned a well-deserved nomination for her outstanding role in The Bear at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards. However, the path to success has not been without its challenges, as the actress faced an initially disheartening encounter during her early days in Hollywood.

Ayo Edebiri in The Bear
Ayo Edebiri in The Bear

One memorable incident involves a chance meeting with the legendary Robert De Niro, a veteran in the industry. This encounter left Edebiri feeling somewhat insignificant, a sentiment that lingered in her memory. Despite her rising star status, she couldn’t shake off the impact of that awkward interaction with the seasoned actor.

Ayo Edebiri’s Unforgettable Encounter with Robert De Niro

Actor Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro

As the rising star Ayo Edebiri continues to navigate the bustling world of Hollywood, she finds herself thrust into a whirlwind of award events. Encountering with fans and fellow celebrities become a routine part of her newfound fame. Amidst the multitude of these interactions, one particular meeting stands out vividly in Edebiri’s memory. A momentous encounter with none other than the acclaimed star of Killers of the Flower Moon, Robert De Niro.

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For Edebiri, meeting De Niro was not just a casual celebrity interaction; it was a culmination of a long-standing desire to connect with the legendary actor. The young actress had harbored an excitement about meeting De Niro for quite some time. She nurtured a feeling in her heart that their meeting would be more than just a passing celebrity handshake. She envisioned a connection between herself and the veteran actor.

However, the reality of their encounter at the Tribeca Film Festival took an unexpected turn, leaving Ayo Edebiri feeling unexpectedly inferior and somewhat foolish. Ayo Edebiri told Interview Magazine,

“It was when I met Robert De Niro—of course this would happen to me. [Laughs] At Tribeca [Film Festival], I was going to all these dinners, and I really wanted to meet him, and because I’m a nut-case, I was convinced that we would just get along. I knew it in my soul. When I met him, I couldn’t have met anybody less interested in meeting me.”

The excitement she had carried in anticipation of the meeting quickly turned into a moment of self-reflection and humility. The seasoned presence of Robert De Niro, with his storied career and iconic status, seemed to cast a shadow that made the rising star feel small in comparison.

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Ayo Edebiri’s Bold Insult to Robert De Niro During Their Initial Meeting

Ayo Edebiri
Ayo Edebiri

Ayo Edebiri’s initial encounter with Robert De Niro unfolded in an unexpectedly intense manner, as her feelings of inferiority compelled her to speak up for herself. The meeting took an awkward turn when the seasoned actor, Robert De Niro, displayed a complete lack of interest in the emerging star.

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Despite Edebiri’s attempts to convey her admiration, De Niro remained seemingly oblivious to her presence and unacquainted with her shows. Frustration took hold of Edebiri during this uncomfortable encounter, leading her to the point of insulting the veteran actor after he blatantly ignored her. Edebiri told Interview Magazine,

“Our conduit was like, “This is Ayo, she’s on this TV show,” that he’s obviously never watched, and I saw him do that thing where he kind of clicked his left eye a little bit past me to somebody that he knew, and I said, “You can just talk to whoever you actually want to talk to.” And he went, “What?”

According to Edebiri, despite the boldness of her move, it remained a humbling act. The actress was filled with rage as her attempt to express fandom and initiate a positive interaction was met with indifference.  So, she consciously chose to maintain a semblance of humility in her approach to the veteran actor. The disconnect between the rising star and the seasoned performer left a lasting impression on Edebiri, making their initial interaction unforgettable.

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