Why The Bear star Ayo Edebiri thanked Ireland at the Critics’ Choice Awards

One of our own.

Last night, The Bear star Ayo Edebiri accepted her Critics Choice award for best actress in a comedy series, giving thanks to Ireland in her speech. A lot of people, especially those not from Ireland or not chronically online, will be completely clueless as to why the American actress thanked her parent's home countries of Barbados and Nigeria as well as "Ireland in many way". If you're not in the know then don't worry, we'll get you up to date. The joke actually stems from a red carpet interview last year that went slightly off the rails.

This is why The Bear star Ayo Edebiri thanked Ireland at the Critics Choice Awards

The origin in question happened when Edebiri was interviewed by Letterboxd, where she talked about her months of preparation living in Ireland for The Banshees of Inisherin, claiming she played Jenny the Donkey. Ayo Edebiri did not, in fact, play Jenny the donkey (she was surprisingly played by an actual donkey), but we're not letting the truth get in the way of a good running joke. And in these trying times of Brits trying to claim our Irish stars, it's nice for someone to claim a bit of Irishness back.

Ayo thanks the nation of Ireland in her CCA’s acceptance speech. pic.twitter.com/fgbHfMcQIN

— Ayo Edebiri Updates (@ayosource) January 15, 2024

During her infamous interview, Edebiri said "I lived in Ireland for about four months."

Continuing on in her faux-Irish accent, she said, "I got really into character and I was on all fours for four months and it was really painful but beautiful as well and it was probably the most fulfilling part of my career.

"And I’m so happy for everybody going to the Oscars even though I deserved the nomination more than anybody else because I was obviously a donkey for four months."

The joke took off and of course it was Irish Twitter leading the way, with countless memes taking over of the Boston-born actress in various Irish scenarios. Once awards season picked up again in January, the memes were back and, last week, Edebiri quoted an Instagram post congratulating the "Irish" actress for her 2024 BAFTA Rising Star Award, saying "Go Díreach" in response. This all of course culminated in Edebiri thanking Ireland when she one her Critics Choice award, proving she is the best of sports and, of course, one of Ireland's best exports in the world of acting. Join JOE’s WhatsApp community for first access to news, updates, and quizzes. Click on this link to receive news and the latest headlines directly to your phone. You can leave the group at any time.

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