The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is distancing itself from Bryan Singer.
The organization that puts on the BAFTAs, the British equivalent of the Oscars, said Wednesday it has suspended Bryan Singer's nomination due to alleged behavior it describes as "completely unacceptable." Singer in a recent investigation published in The Atlantic was accused of sexually assaulting underage boys, allegations he has denied. Although he was fired from Bohemian Rhapsody during production, he is still the credited director on the film, which has seven nominations at Sunday's BAFTAs. Those nominations are not being revoked, but Singer's name has been removed.
The Academy says that the suspension "will remain in place until the outcome of the allegations has been resolved." The BAFTA voting period has already ended, so this step will not affect whether Bohemian Rhapsody wins any awards on Sunday.
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This is the first major awards show this season to take action on Singer, with the Golden Globes previously handing out the top prize of Best Motion Picture - Drama to Bohemian Rhapsody. Although the Globes predated the Atlantic piece, Singer had already faced multiple sexual assault allegations prior to that article, including from a man who said Singer raped him when he was 17. Singer denied this allegation.
Bohemian Rhapsody also recently won the American Cinema Editors' award for Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic, and it's nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Singer will make $40 million from the film's success.
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