The BBC has apologised for the “awkward and inappropriate” interview with Andrew Scott at the BAFTA Awards.
The Irish actor was walking the star-studded red carpet when the BBC reporter asked him: “Do you know Barry [Keoghan] well?”
After Andrew said, “I know Barry, yeah,” the interviewer pressed: “What was your reaction when you first saw the naked dance scene at the end of Saltburn?”
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As someone in the background could be heard saying “no spoilers please”, Andrew appeared puzzled as he replied: “Listen I won’t spoil it for anybody but it’s great, it’s great…”
After the reporter insisted Andrew could “spoil away”, he continued: “There is a lot of talk about prosthetics, how well do you know him?”
Andrew looked visibly uncomfortable as he waved off the question and turned away, before the reporter laughed: “Too much! too much!”
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
The BBC has since issued a statement in response to the criticism.
They said: “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.”
‘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.”
The interview attracted a lot of attention online, with fans criticising the reporter’s line of questioning.
They also pointed out that Andrew should have been asked about his own performance in All of Us Strangers, which was nominated for Best British Film and has received critical acclaim.
