BAFTA suspends nomination for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ director Bryan Singer following multiple allegations
The director has been accused of multiple accounts of sexual misconduct by two men
By Steve Brown
BAFTA have suspended Bohemian Rhapsody’s nomination for Outstanding British Film following allegations made towards director Bryan Singer.
The Golden Globe-winning movie – and frontrunner for multiple Academy Awards – stars Rami Malek as the bisexual Queen frontman Freddie Mercury and has been praised for its portrayal of the LGBT community and of Aids.
However, Singer – who was replaced by Dexter Fletcher after he was fired weeks before finishing shooting – has been accused by four men in a recent article in The Atlantic of multiple accounts of sexual assault when the men were underage in the 1990s.
At the end of January, the GLAAD Media Awards announced they were pulling the movie from their awards and it appears the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) have done the same.
The film was nominated for Outstanding British Film but now, in a statement, BAFTA have announced that Singer’s nomination has been suspended ‘effective immediately’ but confirmed all other nominations are still in place.
They said: “In light of recent very serious allegations, BAFTA has informed Bryan Singer that his nomination for Bohemian Rhapsody has been suspended, effective immediately.
“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.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Bohemian Rhapsody remains nominated in the Outstanding British Film category, and the other individuals named as candidates in respect of the film remain nominees.
“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 BAFTAs are set to be held at the Royal Albert Hall this Sunday (February 10).