Actors and actresses went into full-on anti-Trump mode at the BAFTAs in London on Sunday night, using the ceremony to virtue signal and deliver tedious moral lectures despite the occasion having nothing to do with politics.
In a predictable display of self-importance, host Stephen Fry, star of CBS sitcom The Great Indoors, made several references to Trump throughout the event, held at the Royal Albert Hall in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Most notably, he had a dig at Trump’s recent description of Meryl Streep as “overrated” on Twitter after she lashed out at him at the Golden Globes.
Fry called Streep “one of the greatest actresses of all time”, adding “Only a blithering idiot would think otherwise, Meryl Streep.”
He then walked over to her and said: “Ms Streep, it’s tradition here for me to garner a kiss from one of the nominees every year.” She shot out of her seat to embrace him, saying: “I’m so thrilled” as the audience burst into applause. Returning to the stage, Fry continued: “Never in the field of conflict has my left cheek been so jealous of my right… Underrated is what I’d say.”
La La Land star Emma Stone, who was named Best Actress, did her best to keep up with Fry, using the event to say “the world is going through a bit of time…a divisive time” adding that she was glad the “positive gift of creativity can transcend borders and help people feel a little less alone.”
Viola Davis secured the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Fences. She said it was “everyone’s duty to speak out against political injustice” and managed to slip in the phrase “black lives matter” to her speech.
Ken Lonergan, director of award-winning Manchester By The Sea, claimed that his 15-year-old daughter woke up in tears on the morning after Trump’s election victory and has subsequently been on five anti-Trump marches. “I am very, very proud of her,” he said as the audience showed their appreciation.
British director Ken Loach, now 80, whose picture I, Daniel Blake won Best British Film also joined in, calling the British Conservative government “a disgrace”. However, he has been saying similar things since the 1960s, so everybody present was prepared for his little tantrum.
