BBC responds to complaints over 'inappropriate' red carpet question to Andrew Scott

BBC responds to complaints over ‘inappropriate’ red carpet question to Andrew Scott

Stephen Porzio

The broadcaster described a question asked to the Irish actor as ‘misjudged’.

The BBC has responded to complaints over a question one of its reporters asked Andrew Scott on the Bafta red carpet last week.

Scott was nominated in the Best Actor category for his role in All of Us Strangers and stopped by the red carpet before the ceremony for the British Academy Film and Television Awards.

A widely shared clip from the red carpet featured a perplexed Scott reacting to a strange line of questioning about his compatriot Barry Keoghan.

Scott was asked by a BBC reporter for his reaction when he saw Keoghan naked and dancing in his movie Saltburn.

“Jesus,” Scott remarked before being warned by another reporter not to give any spoilers away. The actor was clearly uncomfortable with the line of questioning, as much as he tried to smile his way through it.

Then it got worse, with the first reporter asking:

“There was a lot of talk about prosthetics (being used in the movie). How well do you know him? Too much? Too much!”

With that, Scott was away as the reporter chuckled at his own question.

This is frankly disgusting. Andrew Scott is there to support his multiple nominated film and THIS is what you ask? Then when he looks visibly uncomfortable the guy carried on. Truly horrid. #BAFTAs pic.twitter.com/42VEoBXRQi

— Alex Gilston ? GFF 2024 (@PresenterAlex) February 18, 2024

BBC responds to complaints over ‘inappropriate’ red carpet question to Andrew Scott

Following irate online reaction to the clip, BBC issued a statement on Friday (23 February) stating that it “received complaints from people who felt a question asked to Andrew Scott on the Bafta red carpet was inappropriate and homophobic”.

As for its response to these complaints, the broadcaster’s statement reads:

“Our reporter began by asking Andrew Scott about the film he’d appeared in – All of Us Strangers – which was nominated for six Baftas. He then moved on to ask about the popularity of Irish actors where Barry Keoghan, star of Saltburn, was mentioned.

“Saltburn is a film which has had cultural impact, with Barry Keoghan’s scene at the end gaining a lot of attention in particular – something the actor has addressed himself.

“Our question to Andrew Scott was meant to be a light hearted reflection of the discussion around the scene and was not intended to cause offence. Saltburn writer and director, Emerald Fennell, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, whose song ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ was used in the sequence, were also asked about the scene.

“We do, however, accept that the specific question asked to Andrew Scott was misjudged. After speaking with Andrew on the carpet, our reporter acknowledged on air that his questioning may have gone too far and that he was sorry if this was the case.”

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