Andrew Scott in angry BAFTAs 'homophobia' row as viewers slam BBC interview

19 February 2024 , 22:34

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Andrew Scott in angry BAFTAs 'homophobia' row as viewers slam BBC interview

BAFTA viewers have slammed a BBC reporter over their "absolutely disgusting" questions to Andrew Scott.

The All of Us Strangers actor, 47, attended the British Academy Film and Television Arts Awards on Sunday night where he faced reporter questions on the red carpet. He stopped to have a chat with BBC reporter Colin Paterson, but viewers were left branding the tone of questions "homophobic".

Andrew, who was up for Best Film and several other awards for his latest movie with Paul Mescal, was asked about his friend Barry Keoghan. Barry appeared in the hugely popular film Saltburn, which features numerous nude scenes including one at the end of the film.

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In the viral clip, Paterson asked Andrew: "Do you know Barry well?" The actor replied: "I know Barry, yeah." The journalist continued: "Okay, your reaction when you first saw the naked dance scene at the end of Saltburn..." Andrew became visbily uncomfortable with the chat as he laughed awkwardly.

Someone else chimed in: "No spoilers." Andrew quipped: "Oh jeez," as he answered: "Okay, well I won't spoil it for anybody. It's great, it's great." Paterson probed again and said: "You can spoil away..." Andrew started to move away as he insisted: "No, no. I won't spoil it for anybody."

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The BBC reporter asked: "There is a lot of talk about prosthetics, how well do you know him?" Andrew appeared awkward as he told Paterson: "Too much! Too much." The interaction soon went viral on social media as some branded the questions 'homophobic' since Andrew is gay.

Andrew didn't appear impressed by the questions (BBC)

One said: "There’s is something so deeply homophobic about asking Andrew Scott a gay man this weird a** question about Barry’s scene in Saltburn??" Another added: "Ask him about all of us strangers the BAFTA nominated film he is in… 'how well do you know Barry' Andrew deserves an apology from the BBC." Someone else commented: "Andrew Scott is an absolute prince for handling this so well. He could easily have told this w****r to f*** off, and no one would mind."

A fourth wrote: "Yeah awful. Please remember how lucky you are to be presenting on a national broadcaster and don’t ask questions like this next time. Poor Andrew Scott." Another user quipped: ""This is frankly disgusting," as someone else said: "Asking a gay actor about another man's d**k in a f****** red carpet interview is so absurdly homophobic because it's creepy but also you're assuming because that person is gay they must have liked it/have thoughts about it because 'queers are sex-crazed'. Absolutely disgusting."

Big winners from the night included Anatomy of a Fall in Original Screenplay, The Boy and the Heron for Animated Film, Poor Things for Special Visual Effects, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Make-up and Best Actress, and Oppenheimer's Cillian Murphy for Best Actor.

The BBC declined to comment when approached by The Mirror.

Mia O'Hare