Bryan Singer: Bafta suspends 'Bohemian Rhapsody' director's nomination after sexual assault claims
Producer was removed from film's set weeks before it was due to wrap up
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Bryan Singer, the director of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, has been removed from the film’s Bafta Awards nomination list amid allegations he sexually abused underaged boys years ago.
The academy announced on Wednesday that Singer’s nomination has been officially “suspended” after the allegations, which were detailed in an article published by The Atlantic that featured interviews from four men who said they had not spoken about the incidents previously.
The 2019 Bafta Film Awards are scheduled to take place on 10 February in London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Singer has strenously denied the allegations and called them a “homophobic smear”.
The director had been fired from the film three weeks before filming was set to wrap up for what was then called “unreliable behavior on the set”.
The academy, in its decision to suspend his nomination, said that they recognise Singer has denied the allegations. But, his suspension will remain in place pending an investigation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Bohemian Rhapsody remains nominated in the Outstanding British Film category, and the other individuals named as candidates in respect of the film remain nominees,” the academy said in a statement.
The statement continued: ”Bafta believes everyone has the right to a fulfilling career in a safe, professional working environment, and it will continue to collaborate with the film, games and television industries to achieve this”.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a biopic following the life of rock star Freddy Mercury, who rose to fame for his work in the band Queen.