Dawn Images

Bigwigs at the BBC are worried political statements and possible swearing at the BAFTA Film Awards, set to be held on Sunday, will land the broadcaster in hot water, Deadline reported on Thursday.

The concerns come after a livestream of the Glastonbury Festival in June was aired where punk-rap duo Bob Vylan led the audience in chants of “Death, death to the IDF” against the Israeli Defence Forces. The chants were criticised by Britain’s prime minister and the channel pledged to air only pre-recorded versions of ‘high-risk’ music events in the future.

A source close to the preparations for the event said, “They can’t have another Glastonbury — that’s the thing they keep talking about.”

Many of the celebrities attending Sunday’s ceremony have used their platforms to advocate for an end to the war on Gaza. Of particular note is Emma Stone, who signed the Filmworkers for Palestine pledge in September, pledging not to work with Israeli film institutions. Stone is contending for the Best Leading Actress award for her role in Bugonia,

The Voice of Hind Rajab is also nominated for the Best Film Not in the English Language award, although it has not been confirmed whether director Kaouther Ben Hania will attend the London ceremony. On Monday, she made headlines when she refused an award at the Cinema for Peace gala in Berlin after an Israeli general was honoured at the event.

In her speech at the gala, Ben Hania said, “Peace is not a perfume sprayed over violence so power can feel refined and… comfortable.”

The BAFTA ceremony, unlike the Glastonbury performance, is edited by the BBC to fit into a two-hour broadcast window. Acceptance speeches are often snipped, although the broadcaster said it attempts to capture the essence of what was said on stage. The awardees themselves have no limitations on what can and can not be said.

Another source told Deadline there was “nervousness” around comments criticising US President Donald Trump, who sued the broadcaster in December, alleging the BBC edited a 2021 speech of his in an effort to defame him.

Celebrities, particularly those from the US, have been vocal against the president on award show stages and red carpets, most recently decrying his violent crackdown on immigrants. Last year, a joke about Trump from David Tennant did end up getting cut from the programme.

Another possible subject of scrutiny might be comments on matters related to Jeffrey Epstein, especially regarding his ties to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The former prince and brother of King Charles III was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Mountbatten-Windsor’s nephew, Prince William, serves as the chair of BAFTA, it is unclear whether he and his wife will be in attendance at the award show.

Swearing at the ceremony is also under observation, as the slot the show is set to air in does not allow for mature language to be broadcast. I Swear, a film on Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson is in the running for the Outstanding British Film award. Davidson, whose tics include swearing, will be at the event.

A spokesperson from the BBC said, “As is always the case, the show’s content must be appropriate for the slot and in line with BBC editorial guidelines, as well as Ofcom-compliant. The ceremony itself is far longer than the two-hour broadcast, and while we always aim to keep the core sentiment of acceptance speeches, edits are made due to time constraints.”

A person close to BAFTA’s planning for the event said it was “business as usual” for the 2026 ceremony.

Cover Image: BAFTA