Andrew Scott walks out on ‘shameful’ BAFTAs red carpet interview

Actor Andrew Scott had enough when a red carpet reporter at the BAFTAs gave him multiple questions – about another actor’s penis.

A BBC red carpet reporter has been labelled “shameful” over his bizarre line of questioning to actor Andrew Scott at today’s BAFTA Awards.

Irish actor Scott is the star of one of the year’s most acclaimed films, All Of Us Strangers, which was nominated for six awards at today’s ceremony (but didn’t win any – and Scott was snubbed from the Best Lead Actor category, one of the biggest upsets when nominations were announced).

In a clip that’s since gone viral on social media, Scott stopped for a chat with BBC Entertainment Correspondent Colin Paterson – who asked him questions about another Irish actor, Barry Keoghan, and his much talked-about nude scene in the film Saltburn. Scott does not appear in Saltburn, and in fact has nothing to do with the movie whatsoever.

When Andrew Scott gives you this look, it’s time to change tack.

“Do you know Barry well?” Paterson asked, with Scott confirming he did know Koeghan.

“Your reaction when you first saw the naked dance scene at the end of Saltburn?” Paterson continued, telling Scott “no spoilers please” as the actor let out a sigh.

“I won’t spoil it for anybody … it’s great, it’s great,” Scott half-heartedly offered.

“There was a lot of talk about prosthetics,” Paterson continued, referring to Keoghan’s full-frontal nudity in the film. “So how well do you know him?”

It was at this point Scott had clearly had enough, waving off the question and turning to walk away.

“Too much? Too much?” Paterson called after him.

Barry Keoghan in Saltburn. Picture: MGM and Amazon Studios

Scott (left) with Paul Mescal in All of us Strangers.

The moment has been met with a furious reaction online after one person tweeted footage of it, writing: “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.”

Others agreed, calling the moment “cringe-worthy” and “unbelievably rude and embarrassing”.

“Good for him for walking away,” one person tweeted.

“Imagine getting time with a fantastic actor of fantastic work here to celebrate his finest film and going ‘have you seen this guy’s wang?’” another asked.

“This is MORTIFYING,” said another.

Others on social media questioned whether Scott’s sexuality played a part in the interviewer’s awkward line of questioning.

“If he had asked a woman this same question, I can guarantee it would cause a s**tstorm. Just ‘cause Andrew’s gay, it’s ok?” asked one person.

“You’re gay! Did you like the scene where the young man showed his penis?” tweeted another.

“Would he have asked Paul Mescal - who is believed to be straight - this question? Absolutely not,” suggested the person who originally posted the clip.

And even BAFTA-nominated actor Callum Scott Howells weighed in, sharing the clip and writing: “Who the f**k have they dragged off the street to interview andrew scott and why is he my mate’s drunk dad at a party.”

To be fair, Scott wasn’t the only person the reporter posed the question to - he also asked singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, whose classic hit soundtracks the racy Saltburn scene in question.

“There is a lot of talk about whether or not prosthetics are involved in the scene - can you give us any intel on that?” he asked.

“As far as I’m aware, not at all,” Ellis-Bextor said with a laugh.

“She’s not part of the prop department or set dec or makeup or production design… WHY would you ask her that?” reads the top-rated comment on the BBC’s Instagram post of that interview.

Elsewhere at today’s BAFTAs, beloved Hollywood actor Michael J. Fox earned a standing ovation when he took to the stage in a wheelchair – then rose to his feet to present the night’s final award, Pest Picture, to Oppenheimer.

Aussie actress Margot Robbie was also in attendance, walking the red carpet wearing the latest in her succession of Barbie-inspired award season gowns.