BAFTA Takes Bryan Singer’s Name Off ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Nomination

Bryan Singer, the director of several X-Men franchise movies. Image by Getty

By PJ Grisar February 7, 2019

“Bohemian Rhapsody” may win a BAFTA, but it looks like the film’s director, Bryan Singer, won’t.

The BBC reports that Singer’s nomination has been suspended from the Queen biopic’s bid for Outstanding British Film. The decision is due in part to allegations, including an expose from The Atlantic, of sexual misconduct and statutory rape.

Singer denies the allegations, calling them a “homophobic smear.” But it looks like he won’t find many allies in the LGBTQ community; “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a watershed film about a queer rockstar, was removed from the GLAAD Media Awards ballot last month following The Atlantic piece.

There’s a less damning reasons for Singer’s name being scrubbed from the BAFTAs: He was fired before principal photography wrapped and replaced by Dexter Fletcher. His termination was reportedly due to his habit of truancy on shooting days — a claim he has also denied.

In a statement on Wednesday BAFTA said it considered Singer’s alleged behavior “completely unacceptable and incompatible” with its values. While the British Academy acknowledged his denial it maintained the suspension would stay in place “until the outcome of the allegations has been resolved.”

The film’s star, Rami Malek, who is nominated for a leading actor BAFTA, acknowledged the pain felt by Singer’s alleged victims in an interview last week. The actor said working with the director was “not pleasant.”

PJ Grisar is the Forward’s culture intern. He can be reached at [email protected].

PJ Grisar is a Forward culture reporter. He can be reached at [email protected] and @pjgrisar on Twitter.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO