‘BAFTA considers the alleged behaviour completely unacceptable and incompatible with its values'
Award season is in full swing, with the British Academy Film and Television Arts awards taking place this weekend.
But it wasn’t Lady Gaga’s potential ‘100 people in a room’ speech or the goodie bags and five star makeover jets flying A-listers in that got the world talking about the BAFTAs this week.
Instead, the award show made news as the Academy suspended a key nomination, just days before the ceremony.
Bohemian Rhapsody director Bryan Singer became subject to allegations last month, as a report published by The Atlantic saw four men come forward to accuse him of having sex with them when they were under age. All incidents reportedly took place in the 1990s while the men were teenagers.
While Singer has denied the allegations, it was announced this week that his BAFTA nomination had been rescinded.
‘In light of recent very serious allegations, BAFTA has informed Bryan Singer that his nomination for Bohemian Rhapsody has been suspended, effective immediately,’ BAFTA announced in a statement.
‘BAFTA considers the alleged behaviour completely unacceptable and incompatible with its values. This has led to Mr Singer’s suspended nomination. BAFTA notes Mr Singer’s denial of the allegations. The suspension of his nomination will therefore remain in place until the outcome of the allegations has been resolved.’
The statement concluded: ‘BAFTA believes everyone has the right to a fulfilling career in a safe, professional working environment, and it will continue to collaborate with the film, games and television industries to achieve this.’
The Academy has announced however that Bohemian Rhapsody ‘remains nominated in the Outstanding Film category’.
The BAFTAs is due to take place on Sunday 10 February.
