The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has removed Bryan Singer's name from the "Bohemian Rhapsody" nomination for outstanding British film due to "recent very serious allegations" of sexual misconduct against the director. The film itself will retain the nomination, as well as six others in craft and acting categories.
"BAFTA considers the alleged behaviour completely unacceptable and incompatible with its values," the academy wrote in a statement Wednesday, four days before its award ceremony. "This has led to Mr Singer's suspended nomination. BAFTA notes Mr Singer's denial of the allegations. The suspension of his nomination will therefore remain in place until the outcome of the allegations has been resolved."
BAFTA's decision comes almost two weeks after GLAAD deemed the Queen biopic ineligible for its outstanding film category in response to the allegations against Singer that were published last month by The Atlantic. The roughly 9,000-word article detailed graphic accounts of four people who said Singer sexually assaulted them when they were underage. Singer denied the allegations and responded at the time with a statement that called the article a "homophobic smear piece," an assertion the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation called out in announcing the film's ineligibility.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" earned five Oscar nominations last month, including best picture. Unlike BAFTA, however, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards best picture only to the film's producers - in this case, Graham King. King and screenwriter Anthony McCarten's names remain on the BAFTA nomination. Neither one, nor Singer, has responded to The Washington Post's request for comment on the director's suspension.