Craig Melvins awkward Anya Taylor-Joy interview | TV Shows

Viewers of The TODAY Show blasted anchor Craig Melvin’s questions for Anya Taylor-Joy.

The journalist, 44, interviewed the British-Argentine actress, 29, on the morning NBC program on Wednesday, March 18. Anya is at the moment on a press tour selling The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). She voices Princess Peach in both movies. There have been explicit moments in the interview that viewers criticized on social media.

One such occasion occurred when Craig recommended there may be a common thread among the characters Anya has portrayed in movie and tv: where they’re “trapped.” Craig famous, “In The Queen’s Gambit, you’re trapped in chess, you’re trapped in the kingdom here in Mario, [and] you were trapped sort of in Survival.”

Anya responded, with laughter at the end, “So, I have a history of being trapped?” Craig continued, “I was going to ask you, is that a theme that you seek out, or is that just a coincidence?”

Anya started addressing the query by stating that she’s very lucky that the roles she was “supposed to embody” have “a way” of discovering her, and it “does feel like fate.”

“I think now, with some hindsight, I do see a through-line between my own personal journey and what I’ve been allowed to depict on screen, but they always feel very different to me,” Anya continued.

Following that exchange, Craig referenced hypothesis that Anya may painting a youthful Joni Mitchell in an upcoming biopic. He described Joni as “arguably the most singularly important woman in music in the last generation or so” and Princess Peach as “one of the most iconic women in gaming history.” Craig then requested Anya what linked these two figures.

“Well, they’re both singular. You can’t touch them. They’re on a league of their own,” Anya responded.

Discussion erupted on the Studio1A subreddit, where viewers critiqued Craig’s line of questioning. The thread’s creator questioned whether or not he appeared “unprepared.” One consumer noticed, “I feel like Craig is usually prepared for interviews, but this one felt off today. It was so awkward.”

Another remarked, “He’s fine when he’s reading off the latest news, but the one-on-one interviews are never good, and I noticed it’s specifically with women.”

The clip exhibiting him asking about the hyperlink between Joni and Peach gained traction on X (previously Twitter). One viewer commented, “Honestly, a really solid response to a ridiculous question. Anya is a true movie star.”

A second viewer posted, “I love how serious she is cause I would’ve laughed in that man’s face.”

Someone else added, “Lmfaoooo she handled that sooo professionally, I love her for that. Props to the interviewer for trying hard to ask a ‘different’ question. It probably sounded better in his head the night before.”

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is based on the 2007 video sport Super Mario Galaxy and its 2010 follow-up. The movie chronicles Mario and Luigi as they embark on a cosmic journey alongside Princess Peach and Toad, accompanied by their new companion, Yoshi. During their space voyage, they encounter Princess Rosalina and battle against Bowser and his son, Bowser Jr. The forthcoming animated characteristic is helmed by administrators Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, with Matthew Fogel writing the script.

Returning to their respective roles are Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, and Kevin Michael Richardson, alongside Anya. New additions to the ensemble embrace Brie Larson, Donald Glover, Issa Rae, Luis Guzmán, and Benny Safdie.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie arrives in cinemas on April 1.