Everything
New ick to add to the list: asking one celebrity, in this instance Andrew Scott, whether or not they think another celebrity, fellow Irishman Barry Keoghan, wore a prosthetic penis in his now infamous dance scene for Saltburn.
In the world of red carpets, glittering gowns, and camera flashes, you’d expect the questions to be as polished as the shoes. However, at the 77th British Academy Film Awards, BBC entertainment correspondent Colin Paterson decided to toss etiquette out the window in an exchange with the ever-dashing Andrew Scott that has since had tongues wagging and fingers typing furiously across the internet.
Clad in an all-red suit that was probably visible from space, Scott, who has been getting rave reviews for his poignant turn in the moving All Of Strangers starring alongside Paul Mescal, was ambushed with a query that left most of reaching for the nearest shovel to bury ourselves from the cringe. The question wasn’t about his outfit, his roles, or even his feelings about the awards ceremony. No, Paterson went for the gold in the Olympic sport of How Not to Interview 101.
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. #BAFTAs pic.twitter.com/42VEoBXRQi
— Alex Gilston 🔜 GFF 2024 (@PresenterAlex) February 18, 2024
“So, you know Barry Keoghan, right?” Paterson began, innocently enough, referring to the actor nominated for best leading actor for his role in Saltburn. Scott, unfazed and polite, confirmed, “I know Barry, yeah,” his response carrying the subtext of “I’m here, I’m queer, and yes, I do know people.”
But then, Paterson, perhaps mistaking the red carpet for a locker room, dove headfirst into territory best left unexplored. “OK, your reaction when you first saw the naked dance scene at the end of Saltburn,” he ventured, as someone off-camera hastily added, “no spoilers please,” probably wishing they could say “no inappropriate questions, please” instead.
Scott, chuckling and shaking his head in a manner that screamed “I’m too classy for this,” diplomatically deflected, “I don’t want to spoil it for anybody, but it was great.” Great at evading spoilers and great at sidestepping a question that had no business being asked in the first place.
Not deterred, Paterson pressed on, asking about the “talk of prosthetics” and how well Scott knew Keoghan, a question so loaded with innuendo it could have sunk a ship. Scott, proving he could give a masterclass in maintaining composure, simply smiled and exited stage left, leaving Paterson and his question dangling in the awkward silence.
“Too much? Too much?” Paterson mumbled, a question he might have considered before launching into his interrogation.
The clip of this cringe-worthy exchange exploded on X (formerly Twitter), racking up over 2.3 million views from people likely watching through their fingers. Critics lambasted the questions as “disgusting,” “appalling,” and “loaded with stigmatising tropes,” showcasing a collective facepalm at the missed opportunity for a meaningful conversation.
So, let this be a lesson to all: In a world where actors are more than their characters and red carpets are more than fashion runways, maybe it’s time to ask questions worth answering. And maybe, just maybe, keep the conversation above the waistline.
