Ayo Edebiri Faced Death Threats & Racism Following Pirates Of The Caribbean's Rumored Casting, Calls Out Elon Musk For Fueling The False Report: "He's An Idiot"

Ayo Edebiri looks back on reports of her potentially leading a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot and the bigoted backlash she received, calling out Elon Musk for his role in instigating the harᴀssment. The Disney action-adventure franchise follows the exploits of swashbuckling pirates amidst the threat of curses, krakens, and the British Empire. Across five installments from 2003 to 2017, the series was led by Johnny Depp’s eccentric pirate captain Jack Sparrow.

Through her Instagram stories, Edebiri opened up about how reports on X suggesting her involvement in a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot and a quote-tweet by Musk saw her receive racist harᴀssment and death threats. She directly called out the X CEO for his role in spreading the reports. Read her full comment below:

“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 LMAO so no only is he double s**g h**ling fascist, he’s an idiot, but anyway

Life is, of course, a gift”

Despite being false, she shared direct messages where she said she might be keen on taking on a role. This is as one user noted that Edebiri is Caribbean. Read her comment below:

@waltdisneyfrozenhead wait no DEI, but I’ve changed mybl mind maybe we could make some money idk lmk

Our Thoughts On Edebiri’s Potential Pirates of the Caribbean Involvement

The Franchise’s Future Is Being Considered Through Multiple Angles

Edebiri is only one of several artists to have their name attached to the next potential chapter in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise after a lengthy eight-year period since the last installment was released. Alongside Orlando Bloom voicing his interest in returning as Will Turner, Margot Robbie’s name has been suggested as a potential lead for a spin-off alongside Edebiri’s. Behind the scenes, it has been reported that multiple scripts are in development depending on which direction Disney decides to take the franchise, with The Last of Us‘ Craig Mazin, Ted Elliott, and Christina Hodson writing.

While the rumors of Edebiri’s involvement had brought her much unwarranted and inexcusable harᴀssment from toxic parties online, her casting would undoubtedly be a huge benefit to the franchise. If the series is looking for a figure to take it beyond the tales of Captain Jack Sparrow, Edebiri is an incredibly talented artist who has earned acclaim for her acting and directing in The Bear. As such, despite her experience and the backlash, it is clear Edebiri is still open to a role.

Our Thoughts On Edebiri’s Pirates of the Caribbean Casting Rumor Experience

Great Care Must Be Taken In An Increasingly Volatile Atmosphere

Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) looking skeptical in The Bear.

Though Edebiri has rightfully taken a stance in calling out those who levied harᴀssment, her experience should nevertheless be a warning to online communities. It is no secret that sects of online fandom have been growing increasingly toxic towards creators online, as seen with the targeting of stars and creators of series including Star Wars, Marvel, and Doctor Who, but exist in all corners of online fandom. In addition, studios are failing to do their part to protect them.

With reports that Hollywood studios are ᴀssembling “superfan” focus groups and paying closer attention to artists’ social media profiles, it can be seen that studios and corporations are acknowledging these toxic outcries, even if much of the outrage is blatant bigotry and racism masked under false claims of “criticisms.” Even though Edebiri’s response makes it clear that she had no involvement in Pirates of the Caribbean, she still suffered from the backlash, especially with Musk’s bad faith amplification. As such, audiences and studios both have a responsibility to take a stand against such actions to ensure the safety of artists in a volatile environment.

Source: Ayo Edebiri/Instagram

Ayo Edebiri

Discover the latest news and filmography for Ayo Edebiri, known for The Bear and Big Mouth.
Pirates of the Caribbean

A series of fantasy swashbuckler films produced by Disney, featuring the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow. Known for its supernatural elements, high-seas action, and iconic characters, the franchise has become a cultural phenomenon and was loosely based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name.