BAFTA President Prince William has raised concerns about the lack of diversity at tomorrow’s awards.
He intends to use his speech on the night to bemoan the absence of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic talent in the top four acting categories.
Critics have also slammed Bafta for its all-male Best Director nominees.
Sources say William has made his feelings clear to chief executive Amanda Berry.
The unprecedented move has heaped pressure on Bafta ahead of the star-studded ceremony this weekend, which Wills has agreed to attend with wife Kate for the fourth year in a row.
One said: “He supports Bafta but is concerned and disappointed.
“He recognises there is so much talent in the industry, so for all the nominations to be white again isn’t good enough.
“It’s not about one year in isolation. It’s about the fact we’re having this conversation every year. Something is systemically wrong here.”
Execs are braced for his speech. Amanda is panicked. There are shockwaves.”
BAFTAs BEING 'BRANDED RACIST'
Black British star Cynthia Erivo was overlooked despite an Oscar nod for Harriet.
She refused an invitation to perform at the ceremony on Sunday, saying: “I think that it’s important to make it known that it’s not something that you just throw in as a party trick, you know?”
Former winner Steve McQueen – the director of 12 Years a Slave – went public to say Bafta risks irrelevance unless it adds diversity to its nominations.
He said: “After a while you get a bit fed up with it. Because if the Baftas are not supporting British talent, if you’re not supporting the people who are making headway in the industry, then I don’t understand what you are there for.”
A source said: “Bafta loves to talk the talk when it comes to issues like diversity but the nominations have exposed them to the entire world.
“If they’re not careful someone like Prince William won’t want to keep his official connection to an organisation being so publicly branded as racist.”
Nominations and winners are picked by the organisation’s 6,500 members.
Bafta has been attempting to limit the PR fallout, with Berry describing the nominations as “frustrating and deeply disappointing”, and pledging to undertake another review of the way the votes are undertaken.
She added: “It’s clear there is much more to be done and we plan to double-down on our efforts to affect real change and to continue to support and encourage the industry on the urgency of doing so much more.”
Graham Norton will host this Sunday night’s ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall which is expected to be attended by A-list guests including Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Margot Robbie, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern, Scarlett Johansson Renée Zellweger and Charlize Theron.
Bafta Palace declined to comment.
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