Recent News Stories Suggest Andrew Scott Is Being Profiled for Being Gay

Was Scott Gay-Baited by BBC Reporter?

The BBC sort-of apologized for an apparent gaffe by their reporter Colin Paterson when speaking with out actor Andrew Scott on the Red Carpet for the BAFTA Awards on February 18, reports The Independent.

"The red carpet interview in question quickly went viral as viewers criticized the BBC's Colin Paterson for repeatedly asking Scott about Barry Keoghan's nude scene in Emerald Fennell's film, 'Saltburn'," the British newspaper writes.

Scott was at the event to present an award, as well as to support the nominated film "All of Us Strangers," which had been nominated for six awards, including Outstanding British Film, Best Casting, Best Director and Screenplay (Andrew Haigh), Best Supporting Actress (Claire Foy), and Best Supporting Actor (Paul Mescal).

Missing amongst the nominees was Scott, who plays a lonely British gay man who revisits his childhood home to find his parents, long dead, alive and younger than he is. At the same time he begins a relationship with a man in his building (Mescal).

While the film holds a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, none of its nominees won at the BAFTAS, nor did the film receive any Oscar nominations.

Much of the criticism of Paterson came with his focusing on a controversial scene in "Saltburn," Emerald Fennell's dark, satiric comedy that was also up for a number of BAFTAs, in questioning Scott.

"Instead of asking about the critically acclaimed queer drama, Paterson opted to focus on asking Scott his thoughts on Keoghan's penis," writes The Hollywood Reporter. "In the now-viral clip, the correspondent said, 'Do you know Barry well?' Scott, who seemingly didn't know the direction that the conversation was heading in, beamed, 'Yes! I know Barry, yeah!"'

Paterson continued: "OK, your reaction when you first saw the naked dance scene at the end of 'Saltburn?'" Scott responded with uncomfortable laugh: "It's great, it's great. I won't spoil it for anybody." Not picking up the clues from Scott, Patterson battered on: "There was a lot of talk about prosthetics. How well do you know him?"

Smiling, Scott waved Paterson off and walked away. "Too much?" Patterson asked.

On Saturday, six days after the report went viral with much criticism of Paterson, the BBC published the following comment:

"Our reporter began by asking Andrew Scott about the film he'd appeared in – "All of Us Strangers" – which was nominated for six Baftas. He then moved on to ask about the popularity of Irish actors where Barry Keoghan, star of 'Saltburn,' was mentioned.

"'Saltburn' is a film which has had cultural impact, with Barry Keoghan's scene at the end gaining a lot of attention in particular – something the actor has addressed himself. Our question to Andrew Scott was meant to be a light hearted reflection of the discussion around the scene and was not intended to cause offense. 'Saltburn' writer and director, Emerald Fennell, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, whose song 'Murder on the Dancefloor' was used in the sequence, were also asked about the scene.

"We do, however, accept that the specific question asked to Andrew Scott was misjudged. After speaking with Andrew on the carpet, our reporter acknowledged on air that his questioning may have gone too far and that he was sorry if this was the case."