Happy St. Patrick's Day to Ayo Edebiri!

On March 17, the star of "The Bear" shared a photo with Irish actor Paul Mescal, who has expressed his desire to star in a romantic comedy alongside Edebiri, to mark the occasion.

Her post adds to the ongoing inside joke that has playfully linked the actor to Ireland, effectively turning her into the internet's unofficial Irish icon.

"Happy St. Paddy's," she captioned the picture of her and Mescal sharing a laugh while seated on a staircase, complete with a shamrock emoji for added flair.

No, Ayo Edebiri is not Irish. The rising star, known for her roles in "Bottoms" and "The Bear," gained significant online attention following her consecutive wins at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, Emmys, and Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2024.

The joke suggesting that she is Irish has spiraled out of control, leaving fans, both new and old, puzzled. Despite being from Boston, Edebiri is not of Irish descent, which raises the question of why there is widespread speculation about her Irish heritage.

Where did the joke about Edebiri being Irish come from?

Yes, you're correct. Edebiri herself initiated the joke back in March 2023.

During an interview with Letterboxd at South By Southwest, she playfully adopted an Irish accent while discussing her fictional role as Jenny the donkey in the popular film "The Banshees of Inisherin," which is set in Ireland. This humorous anecdote marked the beginning of the ongoing joke about her supposed Irish heritage.

@letterboxd No thoughts… just Ayo Edebiri as Jenny the Donkey #fyp #foryou #letterboxd #sxsw #ayoedebiri #movie #film #filmtok #bansheesofinisherin #irish ♬ original sound - Letterboxd

"I resided in Ireland for approximately four months, fully immersing myself in character. I spent the entirety of that time on all fours, which proved both arduous and enriching. It was, perhaps, the most transformative phase of my career," quipped Edebiri.

"Although I extend my congratulations to all attending the Oscars, I can't help but jest that I was the most deserving nominee, given my dedication to portraying a donkey for an extended period," she quipped further.

Ever since, fans have humorously linked her to Ireland, affectionately dubbing her an Irish icon and princess.

Why is the joke so big now?

Following Edebiri's remarkable victories at three prominent award ceremonies in January, her fame has skyrocketed, along with the association with Ireland.

During an interview with "Entertainment Tonight" at the Emmys, Edebiri expressed her gratitude to Ireland and mentioned several cities she likely encountered during her portrayal of Jenny the donkey.

"Edebiri expressed, 'Shout out to my people,' as she acknowledged Derry, Cork, Killarney, and Dublin."

She also mentioned discontinuing her presence on X but acknowledged her ongoing connection with Ireland.

Certain Irish X accounts have furthered the jest, such as @filmindublin, which congratulated "Ireland's own Ayo Edebiri for her nomination for the 2024 BAFTA Rising Star Award."

And naturally, the humor persisted. During her acceptance speech at the Critics Choice Awards, Edebiri extended another round of acknowledgments to the locales close to her heart, including Ireland.

"To everybody in Boston, Barbados, Nigeria, and in many ways, Ireland, thank you so much. I love you," she expressed.

Edebiri's wins included outstanding supporting actress at the Emmys, best supporting actress in a television series musical or comedy at the Golden Globes, and best actress in a comedy series at the Critics Choice Awards, all for her portrayal of Sydney in "The Bear."