Stephen Fry has been hosting the BAFTAs since 2001. Last night marked his latest turn as the host of one of the most prestigious film award ceremonies in the world, but no doubt its one he will wish to forget.
Part of a host’s job is to turn on the wit; keep the audience entertained with sharp quips, and this Stephen Fry has always managed with grace and eloquence.
However, after claiming “only one of the great cinematic costume designers would come to an awards ceremony dressed as a bag lady” when referring to Best Costume Design winner Jenny Beavan, the backlash against him was staggering. It reached such dizzying controversial heights that Fry has now deleted his beloved Twitter account.
After users took to the social media site to express their misplaced and unwarranted disgust, Fry responded with a series of tweets, in which he clarified that he and Beavan is a good friend: “Will all you sanctimonious fuckers fuck the fuck off Jenny Beavan is a friend and joshing is legitimate. Christ I want to leave the planet.”
He followed this up with a picture of them both at the BAFTA after-party, with the caption: “Jenny Baglady Beavan and Stephen Outrageous Misogynist Swine Fry at the #EEBAFTAs after party“.
In support of Fry, Matt Lucas tweeted: “Didn’t you get the memo? No-one is allowed to do jokes anymore.” which perfectly captures this modern climate of free-speech oppression, thinly veiled as ‘political correctness’.
Today, Fry released a statement via his official website, in which he referred to Twitter as “a stalking ground for the sanctimoniously self-righteous who love to second-guess, to leap to conclusions and be offended.”
In it, he showed nothing but relief to be off Twitter: “If everyone did what you did, Stephen, the slab-faced dictators of tone and humour would have the place to themselves. Well, yes and they’re welcome to it. Perhaps then they’ll have nothing to smell but their own smell.”
Bravo, Mr. Fry.
#Peace.Love.StephenFry
