Emmy-winning actor Ayo Edebiri, renowned for her performance in The Bear, has revealed she became the target of “insane death threats” following Elon Musk‘s sharing of a fabricated news story about her alleged casting.
Taking to Instagram, Edebiri addressed the controversy that erupted after Musk reshared a post from “Unlimited L’s”—a right-wing account with no established entertainment industry credentials—claiming she would replace Johnny Depp in a new version of the Pirates of the Caribbean series.
“Disney sucks,” Musk commented on the post.
“Just remembering when I got some of the most insane death threats and racial slurs of my life (idk if it’s the #1 moment, but for sure top 3) for a fake reboot of a movie I had never even heard of because of this man,” Edebiri wrote while sharing Musk’s original post. “LMAO. So not only is he double sg hl-ing [sieg heil-ing] fascist, he’s an idiot but anyway.”
The account owner responded to Edebiri’s post on Wednesday, stating: “I clearly stated ‘reportedly’ because it was the latest information coming from credible Hollywood sources. And yes, I am a HUGE fan and supporter of Mr. Musk. He has my loyalty for LIFE, and I don’t say that lightly.”
No legitimate industry publication had reported this speculation.
In a previous Instagram story, Edebiri praised comedian Bill Burr’s NPR Fresh Air interview, where he labeled Musk “evidently a Nazi,” and discussed his gesture at Donald Trump’s inauguration: “I just refuse to believe it was an accidental two-time Sieg Heil.”
Burr described Musk as an “idiot” with “dyed hair plugs and a laminated face” and someone “who makes a bad car and has an obsolete social media platform.” He questioned why liberals are “so afraid of this guy who can’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag?”
Jerry Bruckheimer, the franchise’s producer, verified last year that a reboot of the series, which generated nearly $5bn worldwide, was in development. Regarding Depp’s involvement, he remained ambiguous, stating: “It’s a reboot, but if it was up to me, he would be in it. I love him. He’s a good friend. He’s an amazing artist and he’s a unique look.”
Edebiri lent her voice to Envy in Pixar’s Inside Out 2 and stars in the upcoming horror film Opus, releasing this month in America. She’s also collaborating with Daniel Kaluuya on the Barney dinosaur project as both writer and actor. An active member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Edebiri frequently participates in their canvassing efforts.
