BAFTA spent two weeks deciding how best to respond to sexual harassment allegations against actor Noel Clarke, it has been reported. The Kidulthood actor has been accused of a range of acts – including sharing sexually explicit pictures and videos without consent. Clarke today said he is “deeply sorry” and is “seeking professional help” after the […]
BAFTA spent two weeks deciding how best to respond to sexual harassment allegations against actor Noel Clarke, it has been reported.
The Kidulthood actor has been accused of a range of acts – including sharing sexually explicit pictures and videos without consent.
Clarke today said he is “deeply sorry” and is “seeking professional help” after the allegations – but he categorically denies the misconduct claims.
He had his Bafta award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema stripped from him, after only receiving it on April 10.
The film academy was made aware of allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and verbal abuse shortly after it announced its intention to honour Clarke with a Bafta, the Guardian reports.
It added that senior figures within the film academy were worried about the potential reputational damage to the organisation over its handling of the claims against Clarke.
The actor, who was given the award earlier this month, has said he “vehemently” denies allegations of sexual misconduct but has apologised for his actions.
Bafta chair Krishnendu Majumdar was aware there could be as many as 12 women making allegations against Clarke on the eve of the awards ceremony.
He sought to speak to anyone with first-hand experience of Clarke’s alleged misconduct and told an industry figure he was “trying to do something about” the situation as it could “destroy” Bafta “in the court of public opinion”, the newspaper said.
Majumdar is said to have described the allegations as a “desperately difficult situation for us” as Bafta “cannot act as judge and jury”.
He also hosted a Zoom call with figures including Bafta chief executive Amanda Berry to discuss how to respond to the allegations, the newspaper said.
Bafta has said it will not comment on the latest claims in The Guardian.
However, the academy previously said in a letter to its membership it was not aware of the allegations relating to Clarke before announcing he would be given the award.
It was in the following days they received anonymous emails about the allegations from second or third-hand sources, it was reported.
The letter stated: “We want to reassure you that we have treated this matter with the utmost seriousness, care and proper process at every stage.
“The Bafta board of trustees has remained right across this matter, has met a number of times and are fully supportive of all actions taken.
“The allegations against Mr Clarke are extremely serious and the behaviour they allege are contrary to Bafta’s values and everything it stands for.
It comes as:
“But no matter how abhorrent these allegations are, they cannot be dealt with without due process.
“Bafta is an arts charity that is not in a position to properly investigate such matters.”
Bafta added it put in place an “independent, appropriately qualified person” alleged victims could speak to.
The letter concluded: “We very much regret that women felt unable to provide us with the kind of first-hand testimony that has now appeared in The Guardian.
“Had we been in receipt of this, we would never have presented the award to Noel Clarke.”
This comes after the actor said he vows to educate himself and “change for the better” – but has “vehemently” denied the allegations of sexual misconduct.
Clarke said recent allegations of misconduct have “made it clear to me that some of my actions have affected people in ways I did not intend or realise.”
He added: “To those individuals, I am deeply sorry.
“I will be seeking professional help to educate myself and change for the better.”
However, in the statement, he added: “I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing.”
Through his lawyers, Clarke also categorically denied every allegation that has been put to him.
He allegedly accepts he once made inappropriate comments about one woman, for which he later apologised.
In a 29-page letter, his lawyers said he denies all of the other allegations.
Among the 20 women who have made allegations are Brotherhood producer Gina Powell.
She alleged he told her he planned to “f**k and fire her” before changing his mind and keeping her on board.
The producer, who worked with Clarke for three years between 2014 and 2017, also claimed the actor bragged about having secret films of naked auditions.
She alleged he once showed her a covert recording of a naked audition by Jahannah James, who starred in Brotherhood.
And earlier today, Sky confirmed they have “halted” work with the actor following the claims.
Clarke starred in Sky’s crime drama Bulletproof, which had a fourth series commissioned in January.
