A bizarre on-air moment between Today show anchor Craig Melvin and actor Anya Taylor-Joy has left the internet in shambles.
Taylor-Joy sat down with Melvin during Wednesday’s broadcast to promote her latest film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, in which she returns in her role as Princess Peach. After the pair discussed her new project, Melvin brought up rumors that Taylor-Joy will play legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell in her upcoming biopic.
“You’re rumored to be playing Joni Mitchell,” Melvin said, “One of the, arguably, most singularly important women in music over the last generation or so. Princess Peach, one of the most iconic women in gaming history. What’s the connection there?”
The 29-year-old actor took a beat before repeating the question: “What’s the connection between Joni and Princess Peach?”
Melvin confirmed, “Yeah,” prompting the Furiosa star to respond that the animated video game character and the folk icon are “both singular. You can’t touch them.”
I will never cut the cord. Television forever. pic.twitter.com/e1VC5Vk645
— Vaughn Sterling (@vplus) March 18, 2026
A clip of the awkward exchange shared on X has been viewed over four million times as of Thursday morning, captioned: “I will never cut the cord. Television forever.”
One person commented on the video: “In [his] defense, this is a question that has never been asked to anyone before.”
Another joked, “I’ve been waiting for this exact question to be asked of me for 28yrs, and this lady fumbles it. Geeez.”
Others poked fun at Melvin’s seemingly random question, with one writing: “You can tell how he realized halfway through that he also didn't know where his sentence was going.”
“Why did he give her a riddle?” someone asked, with one person noting, “Absolutely unhinged question to ask.”
“Poor man was looking for any place to put that question mark,” another joked.
Representatives for NBC did not immediately return The Independent’s request for comment.
Taylor-Joy was praised on social media for keeping her composure during the question, with one person writing on X: “Honestly, a really solid response to a ridiculous question. Anya is a true movie star.”
“I love how serious she is cause I would’ve laughed in that man’s face,” another wrote, while a third added: “Give this woman an Oscar for not immediately walking off the set.”
Former The View co-host Meghan McCain weighed in as well, writing, “HAHAHAHA morning tv is so asinine!!!! Also props to this actress for her answer.”
While the Dune actor’s casting in Cameron Crowe’s biopic about Mitchell’s life has not been officially announced, speculation has swirled for years that she was chosen to play Mitchell in her younger years. Meryl Streep has recently been confirmed as the lead role in the movie.
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